Prodn. involves orienting or rolling a polypyrrole film unoriented or slightly oriented in at least one direction in an atmos. inert gas atmos.    Pref. the polypyrrole film has an orientation degree (f) above 40% or higher (f (orientation degree) = 180-H(o)/180 x 100 (%). H(o) is a half-value width of the density distribution in the 2eta range of 0.38-0.48 of the 3theta and intensity co-ordinates about the X-ray diffraction pattern.    Pref. the polypyrrole film is produced by electrolytic oxidn.-reacting pyrrole and/or N-alkyl derivs., N-phenyl derivs., etc. to deposit on an anode into a film. For the orientation, the film may be stretched and drawn. The drawing speed is pref. 0.1-100% per min. Inert gases include N2 gas. The temp. 20-100 deg.C. The draw ratio is above 10%. The heat set temp. is the drawing temp. of 600 deg.C. For the orientation, rolling at circumferential speed of 0.5-100 mm/min. may be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This film is useful as electronic materials, and for batteries.
Tacky adhesive tape comprises a plastic film having surface protection layer with shock absorbing property on one side and adhesive layer on other side.    Plastic film are e.g. films of PET, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyimide of 25-75 microns thickness. Surface protection layers are e.g. synthetic fibre cloth (e.g. polyamide cloth), nonwoven fabrics (e.g. aromatic polyamide nonwoven, and glass fibre nonwoven fabrics), and rubbers (e.g. silicone rubber, butyl rubber, isoprene rubber, and acrylic rubber) of 50-70 microns thickness. Adhesive layersa are e.g. pressure sensitive, hot-melt, and heat curing adhesives of 20-70 microns thickness.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Adhesive tape is placed inside the battery to fix lead wiring to electrodes and to prevent short circuit of anode and cathode. Adhesive tape shows improved electric insulation property due to the reduced formation of pinholes on and after the prodn. of battery.
Cell has cation exchanger as positive electrode activator.    Acid type cation exchanger film is prepd. by dipping it in 1-N HClO4 aq. soln. 3 times with fresh soln., vacuum drying for 16 hrs. at 50 deg.C, methanol washing for 3 times, swelling by dipping in propylene carbonate at 70 deg.C to form positive electrode activator. Li cell is formed using the positive electrode activator, negative activator of a Li foil, and an electrolyte layer made of 10% LiClO4 propylene carbonate soln. impregnated polypropylene porous film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell is applied to light and thin film sec. cell with high energy density and durability for repeated charge and discharge.
Cell has an anion-exchanger as a positive electrode activator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cell is light and thin film sec. cell with high energy density and durability for repeated charge and discharge.    In an example, iodide ion type ion exchanger film is prepd. by dipping an anion exchange film contg. a N-methyl pyridinium gp. as an anion exchange gp., in 1-N hydrogen iodide aq.soln., vacuum drying, methanol washing, vacuum drying and dipping in propylene carbonate to form a positive electrode activator. A Li cell is mfd. using the positive electrode activator, negative activator of 0.2mm thick Li foil, and an electrolyte layer made of Li iodide satd. propylene carbonate soln. impregnated in polypropylene nonwoven fabrics. The electromotive force of the cell is 2.4 V.
Polyimide compsnsn. comprise (A) copolymerised polyimides consisting mainly of repeating units of formulae (I) and (II) and (B) polyimides comprising mainly repeating units of formula (III) at a wt. ratio of A/B = 1/20-1 and have a coefft. of linear expansion of below 2.0 x 10 power -5 cm/cm K. Where Ar1 is a gp. (i)-(iii), R1 gps of formula (iv) or (v), where X = O, SO2, C(CH3)2 C(CF3)2 or CH2); R2 = a gp. of formula (vi) or (vii) (R3,R5 = dihydric organic gps. R4,R6 = monohydric organic gps; p,q = integers of larger than 1); l, m, n = integers of larger than 1, l/n = 100-1, R7 = a gp. of formula (viiii) or (ix), (R' = a lower alkyl, lLower alkoxy, fluorinated lower alkyl, fluorinated lower alkoxy,halogen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polyimide compsns. are useful for the mfr. of semiconductor devices having passivation film or alpha ray-intercepting film, and solar batteries.
Novel conductive polymers suitable for use in completely dry batteries are prepd. by anodic oxidn. of hetero-fused indoles of formula (I). The polymers have a crosslinked structure in which possible N-bonded vinyl gps. and the aromatic rings are involved, and the delocalised positive charges in the chain are neutralised by counter-ions such as Cl(-), BF4(-), ClO4(-) or PF6(-). E = O, S or Se; R1 = H or a satd. or unsatd. alkyl with double bonds in the vinyl or allyl posn. with respect to N; and R2 and R3 = H or CH3.    Prepn. by electrochemical oxidn. polymerisation with (I) dissolved in an aprotic organic solvent in presence of a transport electrolyte capable of supplying the counter-ions is claimed. The polymer pref. has electric conductivity 0.9-1.1 x 10 power(-5) ohm(-1)cm(-1) (claimed).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A rechargeable battery is claimed which has the polymer as electrolyte and which consists of the elements:    (-)Me1//(P(1)y yX(-) + zH2O)n//Me2(+)    Me1 = an oxidisable metal such as Zn, Cu or Fe; Me2 = a noble metal such as Au or Pt or a metallic oxide; P(1) = the polymer of (I); X = ClO4, Cl, BF4 or PF6; and z = 1-2. a The polymer acts both as the electrode material and solid electrolyte in the battery. The battery is not subject to self-discharging; also it is lightweight, of non-polluting, recoverable materials, protected from short-circuiting, and capable of giving high voltages. Open-circuit voltage (Au/Zn) is ca. 0.85V (claimed).
An absorber plate for the heat recovery of solar radiation energy consists of two glass panels with a gap between them, for the passage of a liq. heat carrier. They rest on an outer frame with the rod profiles. An inner frame with the rod profile is sealed inside the gap. Both frames are pref. made of PMMA. The profiles are joined .the corners by screws, welding or bonding.    ADVANTAGE -   simple and low-cost absorber in a lightweight frame.
An expandible fluid raw materfal, e.g., expandible polyurethane resin, polyethylene resin, etc., contg. a blowing agent as needed is cast into moulds, a capsulated heat storage material, e.g., resin-covered calcium chloride, paraffin, etc., is set in the surface portion of the expandible fluid raw material, and the fluid raw material is expanded and moulded in the moulds to form a plate or circular form of heat insulators having the heat storage materials in its surface portion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The heat storage material-buried heat insulator to be used in building, pipeline, etc., has excellent heat-storing effect, heat-insulating effect, handleability, heat conductivity, and durability.
Heterojunction device of p-type semiconductor is formed on surface of another semiconductor. The p-type semiconductor is practically linear conductive oxidn. polymer of repeat unit of quinone-diimine structure having the formula (I) and has high molecular wt. electrolyte. In (I), R = H or alkyl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device is applied to diode, solar cell etc. with improved rectification property. It has stable property since it has no oxidn. deterioration.
Solar concentrator comprises an aluminised plastic foil and a clear plastic foil which are connected together at their periphery, and along two inner circular lines to form, when blown up, two outer rings and a lentil shaped centre. Eyelets are provided on the outer seam to allow the concentrator to carry a tripod having e.g. a cooking pot at the concentrators focus. A fresnel lens can be used to further concentrate the output. The outer dia. is about 1500 mm and the other circles about 1350 and 1200 mm dia. The aluminium may be paint or foil on top of a palstic layer or between two clear plastic layers. The foil is transparent and heat resisting to greater than 100 deg.C. A stripe is provided to indicate when the inner circle is correctly inflated. The outer circles can be filled with air, sand, concrete or soil to stabilise the whole device.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cooking, generating electricity, pumping fluids, using as a disk or for transmitting or receiving signals from a satellite in emergencies. Simple construction, cheap to mfr. affordable by the poorest people and can save vegetation from being burned.
The process comprises: (1) moulding a mixt. comprising 5-70 wt. % of mesophase granules of powder, 10-60 wt. % of a thermosetting resin, and 3-60 wt. % of non-fusible fibre; and (2) firing the mouldingm in a non-oxidising atmos.    Pref. mesophase granules or powder, contain 92 wt. % or higher C, 7-20 wt. % of volatile matter produced at heating up to 900 deg. C, having a linear shrinkage of 1% or more, and comprised of granules 40 microns or less in dia.; or powder obtd. by grinding.
A curved glass sheet substrate (21) for a solar cell has a transparent electroconductive film (22) formed on its concave surface.    Also claimed is a solar cell comprising the substrate (21), an a-Si layer on the electroconductive film, and a back electrode (26) on the Si layer. A solar cell-installed glass window for an automobile comprises the solar cell and a glass plate laminated on the a-Si side with an interlayer between them.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar panels (claimed) for e.g. sunroof windows in cars are provided, which are of pleasing appearance, free from dazzle and have visible light transmittance.
A solar heat collector comprising an absorber formed by a mainly black body arranged in an elongated absorber housing, which is traversed in longitudinal direction y a collector fluid having a cover housing which insulates against heat conducting- and radiation losses, whereby a) the absorber is a foil- or sheet metal solid body having belows-shaped folds in the longitudinal direction and folds facing the sun having slightly concave curved sides, b) the absorber is black at the rear end and facing the sun and c) a flat absorber being black at the rear end which covers the tips of the folds.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement can be used for solar heat collectors having an absorber located in an absorber housing filled with a collector fluid to collect solar heat. The arrangement is economical, does not require much space, whilst achieving such a high efficiency, that even for bad weather conditions, temperatures of the reactor fluid permit heating of water or operation of a heat-pump.
The solar heat selective absorber contains one or two of a metal oxide and/or a metal carbide of atomic number 24-29 as a major component. As a side component, a transition metal carbide of period gp. IV or AP is added to the major component. The absorber is formed by; (a) Applying the side component powder directly or through a binder on the (in)organic base material; (b) The side component powder is kneaded with a resin component; or (C) The side component powder is melted and spinned with a thermoplastic linear polymer. Or the mixt. of the side component and the thermoplastic linear polymer is melted and spinned with a thermoplastic synthetic linear polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solar heat selective absorber is used for a cloth, curtain, tent, or sheet for green house. The absorber has superior heat retaining property.
(JP2709071-B2)      Secondary battery, comprises a positive electrode comprising vanadium oxide doped with alkali metal ions, a negative electrode comprising an alkali metal alloy, carbon-containing material and a binding material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   High energy density, small self-discharge rate and long cycle life.
Tubes (2) formed by parallel rows of stitching (4) joining two porous fabric sheets are opened by positioning mandrels (8) in each tube, the mandrels are gripped (at 10) through the fabric sheets and advanced a predetermd. distance; then alternate mandrels are released and returned to their original position by a pusher device (12), the alternate mandrels are regripped, the remaining mandrels released and returned to their original position by a pusher device (14). The pusher devices are retracted, the gripper (10) returned to its original position and a predetermd. length of opened multi tubular fabric is cut off (at 16) before the cycle is repeated.    Pref. has the gripping devices formed by members which extend across the width of the fabric, one behind the other and are movable vertically alternately, and advanced and retracted horizontally in unison. The fabric is impregnated with polymer material and heated whilst the mandrels are in the tubes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Forming a multi tubular sheath used in the mfr. of tubular lead acid battery plates. Forms the tubes into true circular or rectangular shapes, or more so than in prior processes where the tubes were of flattened or oblate cross section, and so could accommodate less active material reducing the capacity of the battery.
Appts. comprises a deformable diaphragm between upper and lower moulds and electric heating elements fixed to the diaphragm.    Used for making solar cell modules. (J61047259-A)
Mfr. comprises laminating an upper and lower metal sheets on both sides of a polyestyrene foam board disposed between an upper and lower jigs having risen marginal edges to hold the board. Used for floor heating panels. (J60111826-A)
Photovoltaic device comprises a substrate of metal foil with an insulating film of inorganic material (I) of conductivity not above 10 power -7 reciprocal ohm.cm; an electrode layer; and a non-single-crystal semiconductor photo-voltaic layer.    (I) is Si1-xCx, Si1-yNy, Si1-x-yCxNy, or a hydride or fluoride of these, or a metal oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a flexible, heat-resistant, high open-circuit voltage integrated solar cell.
A flat roof is protected against solar radiation damage due to thermal stresses by frost resistant elements covering the entire roof. They include a frame, a top cover of black colour to keep out UV radiation, a lower cover for the opposite side, and a heat exchanger with two connectors. A single ribbed PVC tube is laid in zigzag loops on carrier strips. This water can be used in summer to feed a swimming pool.    ADVANTAGE -   This is a safe method of protecting flat roofs.
Solar heat collector for a hot water system rests on a T-shaped aluminium carrier beam on the roof of a house, carrying on a base plate with a rectangular frame as insulating polystyrene foam slab. This is covered by a radiation absorbing black plastic foil, pref. made of polyiso-butylene (RHEPANOL,RTM) on which the copper heating tubes are arranged. Two fixing rails hold them to the base plate by tie rods and nuts. A transparent plastic cover is pref. made of rigid PVC, e.g. PHENOPLAST (RTM).    ADVANTAGE -   Improves known solar heat collectors w.r.t. output and mfg. costs.
Electric storage battery (10) comprising closed container (12), electrodes (18), and electrolyte is provided with a head space within the container and means (22) for venting gases generated by electrochemical reactions. Bimodal pore distribution means are created within the head space to attenuate pressure build-up upon ignition of the generated gases. It includes pillows of bulked polypropylene (26), each having at least one bonded segment, within a surrounding netting. The bonded segments collectively create a network of large pores sufficient to accommodate movement of the gases and electrolyte through the head space during operation of the battery. The remaining portion of pillows collectively form a greater number of small pores effectively limiting the peak pressure within the container upon ignition.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The bimodal material in the head space is safely able to attenuate explosions caused by accidental ignition of the gases evolved but without inhibiting the electrical performance of the battery or creating additional operational hazards.
Solar panel has transparent top sheet (22) and dark opaque bottom sheet (18). Both sheets (18,22) are corrugated with alternate upward convex and downward concave portions. The bottom sheet (18) corrugations are of lower height than the top and glue strips are provided in the bottom concave depressions. This provides upward crescent shaped hollow flow channels (12) when the two sheets (18,22) are connected together. Each flow channel can have protrusions in the base to introduce turbulence in the flow fluid. Pref. the sheets are of thermoformed plastics.    ADVANTAGE -   The flow channel shape resists bending or deformation and thus peeling effects on the panel. Concave portions (44) hold the glue, adhesive or hot-melt in position and the two sheets are automatically aligned during assembly. The area of the flow channels is reduced whilst the area for incident radiation is maintained.
The process comprises adding to 100 pts. vol. of polyolefin (A) 80-180 pts. vol. of an organic solid having m.pt. of 35-100 deg. C and molecular wt. of 200-1,000 and contg. polarisable gps. and polar gps. in the mol. and (B) 0.01-20 pts. vol. of an organic solid having m.pt. of 105 deg. C or higher and up to 50 deg. C higher than the m.pt. of the polyolefin, melt extruding the mixt., and extracting at least (A).    Cooling and solidification of the extruded prod. are conducted pref. in a water tub. When the mixt. is melt extruded with a Ti die, the cooling and solidification are conducted on a drum, and the molten prod. is pressed to the drum by applying static electricity. The draft ratio in melt extrusion is pref. at least 4. The extruded prod. is pref. at least uniaxially oriented at draw ratio of 1.5 to 10 after (A) is extracted. The orienting speed is up to 5,000%/min.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The film is used as separators for electrolytic capacitors, electrical double layer capacitors and batteries and as microfilters. It is free of fish eyes and has uniformly sized micropores.
Ointment is formed by fluidising the carbide of transition of group IV metal in the periodic table or a mixt of the carbide and aluminium with volatile solvent, and by milling with a binder. The ointment is formed by milling the carbide or mixt with various kinds of spreading and coating binder like cream such as cosmetic cream, medical cream or shoe polish, and comprises pigment added to the binder. The carbide is TiC, ZrC or HfC, and the binder is polyamide or polyester.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ointment or paint is used for water-bath lagging material mountaineering clothes for keeping warm, cosmetic cream or shoe polish for warmth. The ointment or paint displays an effect of selectively absorbing a plenty of solar heat and keeping warm due to the optical property of the carbide of metals belonging to the IV group of the periodic table or its mixt with aluminium.
The material is obtd. by mixing a carbide, e.g., TiC, ZrC, HfC, etc., of group IV or a mixt. of the carbide and opt. with a binder e.g., Polyamide resin, polyester resin, with a moulding base material, e.g., rigid or soft synthetic resins, glass, clay, metals, or natural rubber, etc., and moulding into a desired prod. Alternatively the carbide or mixt. is covered on the surface of a moulded prod. of the base material e.g. synthetic resins, glass,etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material has good solar energy absorbability and heat-retaining property and is used in various panels, window glass, walls, containers, roofing, pipes, etc.
Heat-retaining sheet is formed of a mixt. of carbide, e.g., TiC, ZrC, or HfC, or a Gp. (IV) transition metal, aluminium powder, and binder, and binder, e.g., polyamide, polyester resin, etc., or the mixt. is moulded into fibrous form and made into woven or nonwoven fabrics or knitted fabrics using partly natural or synthetic fibre. Alternatively the mixt. is moulded into a film partly using a synthetic resin film or metal film and the film is put between glass plates, synthetic resin films, or papers, or the fibrous core material formed on the heat-retaining sheet is inserted into the hollow of a sheath fibre of glass or synthetic resin to form a sheath-core structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The heat-retaining sheet has excellent selective absorptivity for solar energy, excellent heat-retaining property and is used in housing, motor cars, greenhouses, etc., in the form of curtains, windows, walls, tents, etc.
A secondary battery comprises, in a battery case, (i) an electrode gp. consisting of a separator and positive and negative electrodes composed of an electrode substrate (2) and an electrode active material (1); (ii) an electrolytic soln.; and (iii) a means for decreasing the contact resistance the substrates (2) and the electrode active material (1) by pressing the electrode gp. Four other secondary batteries are included having spiral electrodes formed by winding the positive and negative electrodes and the separator. A further secondary battery is included having stacked electrodes comprising a plurality of positive and negative electrodes and separators.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high capacity secondary batteries achieve a high utilisation rate of active material. The electrode substrate contributes to the strength of the battery. It is light in wt. and small which enhances the capacity and decreases the density of the battery. The assembly is partic. applicable to nickel-cadmium batteries but is also applicable to other secondary batteries that undergo vol. changes repeatedly, such as nickel-zinc, nickel-iron and nickel-hydrogen. It is also of use in non-aq. type secondary batteries such as the lithium type and improves its charge-discharge cycle life-time.
Organic photoconductive layer obtd. by mixing and dispersing organic charge generating pigment dispersed in binder polymer as crystalline fine particles, and organic charge transporting dye uniformly dissolved in layer, is placed between two electrodes. Organic dye is hole transporting material.    Pref. organic pigment has light absorbing peak to wavelength of more than 450 microns, and organic dye has light absorbing peak to wavelength of less than 400 microns. Mixt. mol. ratio of dye to pigment is 0.1-50.0. Organic pigment acts as electron receiving substance to organic dye under irradiation of light. One of two electrodes has work function smaller than organic pigment, and the other pigment has work function larger than organic dye.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High photoelectric converting efficiency can be obtd. as strong optical intensity of 100 mW/cm2. Lowering of converting efficiency is avoided even when organic solar battery is repeatedly used.
Ionic conductive polymer compsn. comprises crosslinked poly ethyleneoxide and/or crosslinked propyleneoxide, where (a) gel fraction of crosslinked polymer is 30-90%, (b) electric conductivity is more than 0.0001 Siemens/cm, and (c) electron acceptor is doped.    Pref. mol. wt. of polyethyleneoxide is 50,000-5,000,000 and that of polypropyleneoxide is 20-800. The crosslinking is carried out by irradiation, UV ray irradiation or chemical crosslinking method. Electron acceptor to be doped is AsF5, I, Br2, SO3, FeCl3, etc. Doping amts. of electron acceptor is 20-30 wt.% of the polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solid electrolyte is used in plastic battery. The compsn. is formed into a sheet having an adequate elasticity.
Organic solar battery is coated with protective layer so that light of short wavelength of less than 450 nm is cut. Protective layer has at least more than 60% transmittivity to visible light. Following condition (I) is satisfied when light absorbing end of protective layer is lambda(1) (nm), and light absorbing end of charge transporting substance of organic photoconductive layer is lambda(0) (nm).    Protective layer is coloured coating layer obtd. by dispersing dye or colouring pigment into resin. Colouring substance is, i.e., azo dye, nitro dye, triphenyl methane dye, quinoline dye, etc., and binding resin used in protective layer is polyarylate, polysulphone, polyamide, acryl, methacryl, vinyl acetate, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Deterioration of organic solar battery caused by light of short wavelength with lapse of time, can be prevented, and the solar battery can be stably used for long time. Most of visible light of 400-750 nm can be photoelectrically converted, so that high photoelectric converting efficiency can be obtd.
A solar cell assembly (10) comprises: (1) A solar cell (12) having a layer of a p-type semiconductor (14) overlying a layer of an n-type semiconductor (16), and also having the electrical layer contacts (32, 30), one to each of the semiconductor layers and both having an external surface (22) expressed on a top side (26) of the solar cell; and (2) A glass cover (34) overlies the solar cell with a bottom surface (40) in proximity with the topside of the solar cell. This glass cover has a pair of electrical cell contacts (38, 36) extending from the bottom to the top surface of the glass cover, the portion of each cell contact at the bottom surface of the glass cover (40) being joined to one of the layer contacts (32, 30) at its external contact surface (33).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the mfr. of lightweight devices for delivering power to earth satellites, etc. Very thin assemblies can be prepd. using even brittle materials while the assembly themselves can be readily joined together in arrays.
Prepn. of the electroconductive high polymer film is new. Single or multiple layers of conductive high polymer material, which can be electrochemically doped or dedoped, are fixed on the collector substrate, and then soaked in an electrolyte which is for the electrochemical doping and dedoping of high polymer material. After repeating the doping/dedoping reaction at least five times, the conductive high polymer material is removed from the collector substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive high polymer film is used for the active substance of the battery. A film with improved flexibility, desired thickness, and good conductivity can be prepd.    In an example, 1, 2 g of polyaniline powder was pressed at 2.1 t/ cm2 to attach it in layer form onto a stainless steel plate Two sheets of unwoven polypropylene cloth (4) were placed on the pressed polyaniline. On the cloth, polypropylene plate (5) was placed. Then those were mechanically pressed to attach the polyaniline (3) to the plate (1). The prepd. article was soaked in 1 mol/1 propylene carbonate soln. as an electrode. Doping/dedoping cycles were repeated 100 times, then the polyaniline was taken off the stainless steel plate (1).
Solid state storage cell comprises: a redox electrode; a solid state electrolyte formed of an organic support (I) and an inorganic salt contg. a metal ion; and a counter electrode. (I) is pref. a porous polymer composite of low and wt. (400-1000) and high mol.. wt. (40000-600000) components and is pref. an organo (metal) polymeric oxide, sulphide, halide or alkyl such as polyethylene (oxide) or Teflon (RTM). The salt is pref. an Li, Zn or Pb salt esp. a halide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a compact battery having long shelf life and operational life and low cost. A structure using e.g. a polyaniline electrode may also be used as an electrochromic device. (not claimed)
Solar oven has insulated cooking pan, a sheet of low-iron heat conductive glass, a mirror combination with a projection for fitting in an opening of a support arm. The glass has an iron content of only 0.04 per cent and a heat transmission of 83 per cent. The mirror combination is a mirror and a polyvinyl backing with substantially 100 per cent reflection. The mirror can be silvered glass or polished aluminium. Pref. the insulation of the pan is a polyisocyanate foam. The casings and frame can be a mixture of steel and aluminium.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The oven temperature can be raised to about 300 deg.F in about 30 minutes. This temp.is suitable for boiling water for tea or coffee for cooking vegetables and rice or cooking hot days and portions of meats.
A curved face solar cell module is obtd. by a method in which an intermediate layer composed of a transparent resin, e.g., EVA resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, etc., is locally or stepwise laminated in a multilayer between a transparent curved plate, e.g., glass, plastic of carbonate acrylate, etc., having a thickness of 2-6 mm and a curvature radius of 5000 mm or less and a solar cell element, e.g., amorphous silicon solar cell, etc., having a thickness of 0.3-2 mm. The intermediate layer is integrally formed such that the number of multilayers is increased, the wider the interval between the transparent curved plate and the solar cell element becomes according to variation of the interval. Also, on the back side of the solar cell module, a back layer of PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), etc., may be provided.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method can effectively produce a curved face solar cell module which can be easily bonded to even complicated shapes of objects and can exhibit good performance. Also, the curved face solar cell module does not need to be divided in application and the use of the solar cell module can more widen the space of vehicular body when used for auto car, etc.
(JP2696872-B2)      Airtight lead storage battery comprises two metal plates (7') (acting as collectors) laminated with a synthetic resin film (6) on one side sandwiching a negative electrode board (2) and a positive electrode board (1) with a separator (3) in between. The structure is surrounded by a synthetic resin frame (5) having an opening smaller than the metal plate structure (7) so that it surrounds the electrodes and separator and is heat fused together with the collector plates.    USE -   Used for portable appliances.    ADVANTAGE -   Offset is prevented.
An electrochemical power cell having an Li anode and a high surface area electronically conducting cathode, contains a non-aq. electrolyte comprising a soln. including an ionisable LiAl halide and an additive of Br2 or I2 dissolved in a partially or fully halogenated (F, Cl, Br) C2-C4 aliphatic acid chloride, which is stable in the presence of Cl2, Br2, I2, AlCl3 and Li. Also claimed is a cell as above in which the Li salt in the electrolyte is one of LiGaCl4, LiGaBr4Li2B10Cl Br)10, and Li2B12 Cl(or Br)12.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A small lightweight electrochemical power source for use as a prim. or sec. cell is provided. The cell is self-protected against overcharging and is safe in use, with steady discharge behaviour. The absence of S helps to prevent degradation.
Solar cell is formed by: forming a substrate (18), etch stop layer (20), pn structure (14,16) and a contact (22,24) to each pn semiconductor layer (14,16), each contact having connection to a corresponding electrode (30,32) on the surface of the cell; placing a glass cover (34) over the cell, the cover having external surface terminals (36,38) which contact the electrodes (30,32) so that connection is made to the pn structure; and etching away at least part of the base (18) to reduce the device overall thickness.    USE -   As a lightweight, robust solar cell with reliable external electrical contacts, suitable for e.g. space applications.
The method is for bending a hollow sandwich panel comprising two parallel plates of thermoplastics plates. are sepd. by spacers situated in parallel lines. The resistance to bending of the panel is reduced by first reducing the rigidity of one or both plates. The panel bends around a bending axis running parallel to the parallel lines so that the inner plate bends with a relatively small radius and the outer plate bends with a relatively large radius. The relevant plate(s) is/are warmed before bending so that the zone between the spacers are deformed.    USE -   E.g. as casing for solar energy collector.
Non-aq. sec. cell has an electrolyte layer of the membrane which selectively passes cations.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sec. cell is used for electric and electronic devices which need high energy density cell. Time variation of internal resistance of the cell can be reduced. Leakage of liq. can be eliminated. Life of the cell is improved.    In an example 20 pts. of polyethylene oxide and Li salt of polystyrene sulphonic acid are dissolved into water to make 10% soln. The soln. was flowed on a film PFA (copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyvinylether), and dried under reduced pressure in existence of P2O5. Thickness of obtd. cation passing membrane was 200 microns. Li foil was attached on one surface of the membrane, and pellet contg. V6O13 was attached on the other surface of the membrane as anodic active substance. The prepd. material was pressed from both sides to form a cell. Electromotive force of the cell was 2.05 V. Cycle life was 2200 cycles.
Thermal H2 sec. battery comprises: an anode with a thermally activated reversible solid H-contg. inorganic cpd. which deintercalates H+ on discharge when heated, gas-free electrolyte which transports H+ between anode and cathode when the anode is heated; and a cathode of H+ intercalatable material which intercalates H+ in th- discharge cycle. The cathode cpd. is pref. a metal hydride, a transition metal intermetallic hydride or an H-intercalate of a transition metal sulphide, oxide, halo-oxide, carbide, phosphosulphide or carbosulphide.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery has high oc. voltage and energy density and is lightweight and small. it may be used as an energy converter with a solar collector or waste heat source.
A polyethylene oxide-polysiloxane polymer is obtd., by reaction of a oilgoethylene oxide deriv. of formula (I) and a metal-contg. cpd. of formula (II): (R1)2R2Si(CH2)3(OCH2CH2)nOR3 (I) where n = an integer of 2-50, R1=alkyl, aryl or alkoxy, R2 = alkoxy, R3 = alkyl or -(CH2)3Si(R4)2R5, R4 = alkyl, aryl or alkoxy and R5 = alkoxy and (R6)mM(OR7)4-m where m = 0, 1 or 2, R6 = alkyl or aryl, R7 = H, alkyl or aryl and M = Si or Ti.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Polyethylene oxide-polysiloxane polymers with chemicaL stability capable of forming self-supporting films. Useful as solid electrolytes for electrochemical devices such as electrochromic devices and sec. batteries by dissolving other electrolytes, and dimming glass.
An electroconductive integrated substrate and its method of prepn. are claimed. The substrate comprises a gas-permeable carbonaceous plate with a large no. of pores laminated and bonded to a gas-nonpermeable electroconductive plate (10), bonding being by a thermoplastic resin which is present only in the pores of the gas-permeable plate.    Prepn. is by interposing a synthetic resin film between the plates and subjecting to heat and pressure to melt the resin and thereby bond the plates in a laminate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The substrate is used as a functional element for a fuel cell (claimed), e.g. in electrode substrate units, gas passage units or cooling units for various types of fuel cells such as phosphoric acid or membrane-type cells. In a typical embodiment of a phosphoric acid fuel cell one carbonaceous plate (12) serves as a gas permeable electrode substrate for an oxidative gas (e.g. air) and the other carbonaceous plate (13) as a permeable electrode substrate for a fuel gas (e.g. H2), whereas the electroconductive plate (10) separates the two gases. The substrates have low elec. resistance at the bonded surfaces and the bonded surfaces are free from warp and sepn. Unlike prior-art integrated substrates (e.g. J61019069, J62211868 or J63048763), no heat treatment step is required after bonding.
A photoconductive imaging unit made up of superimposed flat layers bonded together is characterised by having an intervening polymeric (pref. polyimide) layer (5) between the amorphous silicon photoconductive layer (4) and the dielectric mirror layer (6).    Also claimed is an optically-addressed spatial light modulator in which the photoconductive layer (4) is part of the input section and the dielectric mirror layer is part of the interface section.    ADVANTAGE -   The intervening layer (5) acts to prevent imperfections at the interface of the silicon layer and the dielectric mirror, esp. when alternating MgF2/ZnS layers are used for the mriror.
Polymerisable monomers are chemically oxidation-polymerised in the presence of protonic acid and Fe(OH)3.    The protonic acid may be HC1, H2SO4 perchlorinate organic sulphonate, dichloroacetic acid, nitrobenzoic acid, tartaric acid polystyrene sulphonic acid, or polyallysulphonic acid. The monomers are e.g. pyrrole, N-methyl pyrrole or N-phenyl pyrrole and are added in a solvent contg. the protonic acid and agitated for few hrs. The content of the protonic acid is 3-10mol based on 1 mol of Fe(OH)3. The solvent may be acetone, tetrahydrofuran, ether, CC1 or hydrocarbon, oxidising agents are pref. added to the solvent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An electroconductive polymer contg. desired dopants is obtd. efficiently and is used for plastic-batteries or for electrochromic displaying elements.
Pyrrole or its derivs are chemically oxidative-polymerised in presence of oxidising agents and protonic acid. Oxidising agent has (1) standard electrode potential of more than 0.2 V and does not generate anion if agent is reduced. Pref. oxidising agent is e.g. H2O2 permanganate bichromate PbO2 of MnO2. Protonic acid is e.g. HC1, H2SO4 perchlorinate organic sulphonate, nitrobenzoic- or tartaric-acid. Monomers e.g. pyrrole, N-methyl or N-phenyl-pyrrole, are added in solvent contg. oxidising agents and protonic acids and agitated for few hrs. Solvent is e.g. acetone, THF, ether, CC14 or hydrocarbon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electroconductive polymer contg. pref. dopants, is obtd. efficiently. Polymer is used for plastic-battery or electrochromic displaying elements.
Ion conductive solid electrolyte comprises set compsn. consisting of acryloyl modified polyalkylene oxide, inorganic ion salt, and polyurethane or polyurethane urea.    Pref. the solid electrolyte additionally contains polyalkylene glycol or its derivs. of the formula, RO(CH2CHRO)n-R, (where R=H or lower alkyls, n = 3-30.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The ion conductive solid electrolyte is used as the electrolyte of the batteries and electrochromic display elements. Ion conductivity, and mechanical properties of the solid electrolyte are improved.
Ion conductive solid electrolytic component comprises (1) segmented polyether-urethane-urea contg. 75-90 wt.% of polyethylene oxide of formula -(CH2-CH2O)n- and (2) inorganic ion salt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electrolyte is applied to a prim. cell, sec. cell and electrochromic indicator device. It has high ion conductivity, improved moulding processability and mechanical property.    In an example 4 polyethylene glycol and 0.862 g. 4,4'-methylene phenyl isocyanate were mixed and reacted for 10 hours at 80 deg.C. 30 ml dimethyl acetoamide was added and cooled at -5 deg.C. Dimethyl acetoamide soln. of ethylene diamine was added (10 wt.%, net 0.138 g.) to it, reacted for 1.5 hours at -5 deg.C, and the mixt. was poured into methanol to ppte polymer of segmented polyether urethane urea (polyethylene oxide structure is 80 wt.%).
Electroconductive polymer is obtd. by (a) feeding gas contg. H gas into a plasma-generating chamber, (b) generating plasma-gas by electric discharge, (c) feeding plasma-gas in a reactor having substrates to deposite polymer, (d) adding monomers of the formula: CpHqXmYn (X is halogen; Y is N or S; p above 2; 0 below q below 2p; q below m below 2p; 0 below n) to reaction, and (e) reacting monomer and plasma-gas and depositing polymers on substrate.    Gas (a) includes He, Ne, Ar, Cr or Xe. Gas contain H gas and may contain other cpds. e.g. PH3, PF3, BF3, AsF5 or SbF5. Monomer (d) includes HC=CBr, FC=CF or cpds. (i)-(iii).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electroconductive polymers with improved stability are obtd. efficiently. Polymer has good electroconductive properties for a longer period and is used for semiconductive membranes or secondary cell materials.
An amorphous Si thin film solar cell (12) and Schottky barrier diode (14) on a common substrate (16) comprise a conductive layer (18) on a flexible substrate (16), with Si layer(s) (30,32,36,38) forming the diode and solar bodies over their respective portions of the conductor, adjacent to one another bus spaced apart by insulating material (28). A second conductive layer (34) covers both regions, the diode layer forming a contact with one of the conductive layers and a Schottky barrier with the other.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A SChottky diode integrated with a solar cell on a common flexible substrate (claimed) is provided. The roll-to-roll processing techniques are most cost effective and the diodes may be readily shaped. High forward current densities are possible and the TiN prevents contamination of the body by Al during mfr. Unlike single crystal devices the diode/solar cell combination is compact and resilient.
An electrochemical cell for a thermal battery comprises an anode (8) of alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal, a fusible salt electrolyte (12), a fluorocarbon or fluorochlorocarbon polymer depolariser (14) and means (2) for heating the cell to melt the electrolyte.    Preferred Compn. - The anode (8) is fusible at the operating temp. of the battery, e.g. the anode is a mixture of lithium and particulate iron. The depoloriser is mixed with electrolyte, e.g. an oxide or halide of lead or bismuth, and a refractory binder. The fluoro-polymer is PTFE, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, a fluorinated ethylene - propylene copolymer, polyvinyl fluoride or polyvinylidene fluoride. The heating means can be platens (2) or a combustible heat generating pellet (22).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery has a long shelf life at ambient temp. but can be altinated by heating. The fluoro-polymer depolariser may give increased voltage under load.
Secondary cell contains power generating element comprises (a) a positive electrode (PE) of transition metals chalcogens cpd., (b) a separater set with the PE, (C) a negative electrode (NE) made of carbonaceous material having less than 0.10 atm. ratio of H/C, face distance of (002) plane (d002) is between 3.37 and 3.75 angstroms by X-ray, crystal size (Lc) of c-axis is between 5 and 150 angstroms integrated pore vol. having 10-250 angstrom of pore radius (TIPV) is more than 1.0 x 10 power(-3) ml/g and distribution of the TIPV; (Integral pore vol. (IPV) of pore having more than 10 angstrom and less than 20 angstroms pore radius (PR))/(TIPV) is 0.5 or less and 0.1 or more = (p-1), (IPV of pore having more than 20 angstroms and less than 100 angstroms 14)/(TIPV)|is|0.7|or|less|and|0.1|or|more|=|(p-2),|(IPV|of|pore having more than 100 angstroms and less than 250 A PR)/(TIPV) is 0.5 or less and 0.1 or more = (p-3), (d) Li or Li basis alkali metal as an activator which contained in PE and/or NE and moving between PE and NE equivalent with charge and discharge reaction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell applies to electronic device for charge/discharge with better reliability and life.
Sec. cell contg. power generation element comprises (a) a positive electrode (PE) of transition metals chalcogens cpd.; (b) a separater set with the PE; (c) a negative electrode (NE) which set with the separater and made of carboneous material having less than 0.10 atm. ratio of H/C, face distance of (002) plane (d002) is between 3.37 and 3.75 Angstrom by X-ray, crystal size (Lc) of c-axis is between 5 and 150 Angstrom, mesopore specific surface (mess) is more than 0.8 sq.m/g, micro pore specific surface (miss) is more than 1 sq.m/g and ratio of mess./total specific surface (R) is 0.05-0.9; and (d) Li or Li basis alkali metal as an activator which contained in PE and/or NE and moving between PE and NE equivalent with charge and discharge reaction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell is applied to electronic device for charge/discharge with better reliability and life.
Sec. cell contains a power generating element comprising a) a positive electrode (PE) of transition metals chalcogens cpd., b) a separator set with the PE, C) a negative electrode (NE) set with the separator and made of carboneous material having less than 0.10 stm. ratio of H/C, a face distance of (002) plane (d002) of between 3.37 and 3.75 angstroms by X-ray, crystal size (Lc) of c-axis of between 5 and 150 angstroms, total pore vol. (tp) of more than 1.5 x 10 power -3 ml/g, micro pore vol. (mp) of more than 1.0 x 10 power -3 ml/g and mp/tp (R) of 0.1-0.9, d) Li (based alkali metal) as an activator contained in the PE and/or NE and moving between the PE and NE equivalent with the charge and discharge reaction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for electronic device for charge and discharge with improved reliability and life.
A new conductive polymer is to be used in sec. cells as a pos-itive material, is obtd. by polymerisation of azobenzene deriv. e.g., 4-aminoazobenzene, 4,4'-diaminoazobenzene, of formula (I) where X is amino gp. and m and n are each 0-5). The polymerisation of the azobenzene deriv. is attained by electrolytic or chemical oxidn. In the electrolytic oxidn., a mixed solvent contg. propylene carbonate or propylene carbonate may be used as a solvent. The new type conductive polymer is used as the positive material of the sec. cell using as an electrolyte LiBF4, LiClO4, LiPF6, LiI, LiBr, or LiNO3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The new type conductive polymer is effectively used as the positive material of sec. cell and enable the sec. cell to be charged or discharged to a greater extent than the conventional one in case of the sec. cell using as negative material Li metal or Li alloy.
(JP2589717-B2)      Enclosed lead storage battery has a coat of thermosetting or active adhesive (6) on the barrier wall (1) between adjacent cells. The adhesive is cured, by heat generation, during welding of the connecting body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Set-up is used for air-tight storage cells. Both battery lifetime and reliability are improved.
Sec. battery comprises (1) positive electrode, (2) separator attached to positive electrode, (3) negative electrode attached to separator, (4) generating elements enclosed by positive electrode plate and/or negative electrode plate, that consist of active materials which migrate between positive electrode and negative electrode responding to the charging or discharging state of battery. Positive electrode materials consist of chalcogenides of transition metals. Negative electrode materials consist of carbonaceous substance with the atomic ratio of hydrogen/oxygen below 0.1, of which lattice space (d) of (002) crystal lattice is d = 3.37-3.75 angstroms. Active materials is Li or alkali metal contg. Li.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mfg. sec. battery with high energy density, with long life, and reliability. After 5 and 100 cycle of charge and discharge, the discharge capacity of this battery is 1.9mAh, while charged (2.0mAh) conventional battery after 5 cycles, its discharge capacity dropped to 0.8mAh, and after 100 cycles to 0.3mAh.
Fine particles of core material are covered by a superconductor.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The microcapsule has a thin cover film of superconductor. The battery active material is covered by superconductor thin film. Thus the battery has quite little internal resistance.    In an example, fine particles of battery active material, such as MnO2, and fine particles of graphite are dispersed in an electrolyte. Then the electrolyte is dispersed and emulsified in a polymer fluid contg. a superconductor. The obtd. emulsion is spray dried to form porous microcapsules. The superconductor is composed of Y-Ba-Cu-O. The obtd. microcapsule is packed in an Mn dry battery instead of MnO2, graphite, and electrolyte. The internal resistance of the battery is considerably lowered.
A process is claimed for inserting a hardening sulphuric acid electrolyte (I) into storage battery cells with a sulphuric acid (II) specific wt. of 1.20-1.31, by using a water-in-oil emulsion with a polymeric polyelectrolyte, pref. a (co)polyacrylamide (III), in the water phase and invertinq this, together with a mixt. of (II) and silicic acid (IV), to an oil-in-water emulsion. The novelty is that (II) (opt. with up to 3 wt.% suspended (IV) (component A), a 6-12 wt.% aq. suspension of (IV) (component B) and the water-in-oil emulsion (component C) are adjusted to qive final concns. of 3-5 wt.% (IV) and 0.1-1 wt. % polymer and mixed thoroughly with an energy of 1-10kj/m3, and the mixt. is then immediately put into the cells.    Final concns. are adjusted to 4 wt.% (IV) and 0.4 wt.% polymer for an acid specific wt. of 1.28; 50-80% (II) is used in (A); mixt. comprises 40-70 (pref. 60) wt.% (A), 30-60 (pref. 39) wt.% (B) and 0.15-1.5 (pref. 1) wt.% (C); emulsion contains 20-60 (pref. 40) wt.% (III) and has density 1.03+-0.02 g/ml and viscosity 300+-100 mPa.s; (III) has mol. wt. at least 1 million; amt. of (IV) in (A) is 1.3-1.5 wt. % (B) comprises demineralised water contg. 8 wt.% (IV) is pyroqenic, pref. hydrophillic, SiO2, and is pref. mixed with hydrophobic silica and surfactants; mixing energy is 2-5 kj/m2; mixt. (I) is put into the cells under alternating higher and lower pressure, the lower pressure is pref. a partial vacuum (pref. 50-80 kPa) and the cell is ventilated to atmos. pressure with air after each evacuation, which is repeated at a rate of 0.2-1 Hz.    ADVANTAGE -   W.r.t. prior-art compsns., the components of (I) can be kept for a long time in the liq. or slightly thickened state and the final concns. together with the energy of mixing, ensure that the electrolyte runs into the cell easily and then hardens reliably.
A repeating component within an electrochemical cell stack comprises a flat electrolyte matrix abutting a flat porous electrolyte reservoir plate to draw and store product water, a flat porous electrolysis cell electrolyte reservoir plate abutting the first plate and a second electrolyte matrix to draw water when operating in electrolysis cell mode.    There is a respective metal separator plate adjacent to each matrix and contacting a current conductor plate, with an insulating sheet adjacent to the conductor plate other side, and a cooling plate adjacent to at least one of the insulating sheets. There is pref. a porous PTFE sheet interposed between the reservoir plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for space applications, allows operation as either fuel or electrolysis cell stack, operating passively without fluid pumps in either mode.
Prodn. comprises forming a perfluorosulphonate polymer film from a perfluorosulphonate polymer soln. on a substrate, immersing the film in an acid, immersing the film in water until it contains water in the satd. state, freezing the water in the film and drying the film in a reduced atmos.    Na perfluorosulphonate polymer is pref. used as the perfluorosulphonate polymer. By immersing the film in an acid, cations in the film are substd. with protons.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Proton conductive film formedis used for prim. battery, sec. battery, ECD, ion sensor and gas sensor. The film has improved proton conductivity.    In an example, Na perfluorosulphonate polymer film with a thickness of 1mm after drying, was formed on a glass plate by casting of a Na perfluorosulphonate polymer soln. The plate was immersed in 1N H2SO4 soln. heated at 70 deg. C for 1 hr. The procedures were repeated 3 times. The plate was immersed in pure water heated at 70 deg. C for 1 hr. The procedures were also repeated 3 times. The plate was then freezed at -20 deg. C for 1 hr. and then dried at 1 Torr.
Fluorescent polymer moulding contains at least one cpd. of (I), (II), (III) and (IV), where R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are selected from alkyl, alkenyl aralkyl, and are the same or different.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The moulding absorbs UV emitted by the sun or an artificial light source such as a mercury lamp, and converts it to light having a longer wavelength. The moulding can be used for display elements, capacitor for solar battery, film for agriculture, etc.
An inorganic non-aqueous electrolyte cell comprises oxyhalogen cpd. as positive electrode (PE) activator and electrolyte solvent, and an alkali metal as negative electrode (NE) activator. An organometallic cpd. of formula R3 X is added in the electrolyte or PE. R = alkyl group, allyl group or alkoxyl group. X = B, Al, Ga, Sb or Bi.    ADVANTAGE -   Initial voltage drop at large current discharge after storage is prevented.
Cell comprises an oxyhalogen cpd. as anode activator and electrolyte solvent, and an alkali metal as a cathode activator. Polymerised O2 conts. organic silane cpd. is added to the electrolyte.    ADVANTAGE -   Initial voltage drop at large current discharge after storage is prevented.
An inorganic non aq. electrolyte cell comprises oxyhalogen cpd. as positive electrode (PE) activator and electrolyte solvent, and an alkali metal as negative electrode (NE) activator. Main componentof PE material is aromatic hydrocarbon and carbon.    ADVANTAGE -   Discharge capacity of the cell is increased by using aromatic hydrocarbon and carbon as main components of PE activator.
Electro conductive lacquer (I), for contacting solar cells of amorphous silicon at temps. below 200 deg. C. in screen printing processes, comprises (a) 50-75 wt. % of silver powder contg. 0-50 wt. % of aluminium powder; (b) 5-15 wt. % of a thermoplastic polyester resin having a mol. wt. of 10,000-40,000; and (c) 10-45 wt. % of an organic solvent in the form of hydrocarbons, glycol ethers or glycol ether acetates.    Pref. (b) comprises aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acids polycondensed with polyhydric alcohols.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) has good screen printing properties and storage stability, and a low contact resistance.
Composite panel prodn. comprises laminating a sheet made of a fibre reinforced unsatd. polyester resin cpd. (not contg. any semiconductor resin) on a polyvinyl chloride sheet and pressing the laminate and heating. Panel is used in the water storing tanks of solar-powered heating systems. (J58216557-A)
Conductive organic polymers contg. electrolyte ions as dopants and having a conductivity of at least 10 power(6) S/cm are produced by chemical oxidative-polymerising (1) aniline, its derivs. or their salts with (2) oxidants comprising (a) oxidants having a standard electrode potential set as electromotive force in the redn. half cell reaction based on standard hydrogen electrode being at least 0.6 V and, when being soluble in water,~PP4 forming a neutral aq. soln. and forming no anion seed after reduced and (b) protonic acids having an acid dissociation constant pKa below 3.0.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The organic polymers are useful for the mfr. of plastic batteries and electrochromic display. The organic polymers contain the protonic acids along as dopant.
In a dry cell having a zinc anode pot closed by a plug, the novelty is that the sidewall of the pot (2) is covered by a protective screen (6) of adhesive material which, after hardening, is resistant to corrosive chemicals, is impermeable to liquids and is permeable to gas, the screen adhering partially or completely to the body of the cell.    Also claimed are (i) equipment for mfg. the cell, comprising an adhesive melting tank, a pump, a molten adhesive feed pipe and an injection nozzle; and (ii) a process for mfg. the cell, involving (a) prepg a first mixt of cornflour, starch, ammonium chloride and water and a second mixt of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, water, inhibitor and an insolubiliser for the cornflour and starch, and (b) injecting the two mixts. into the cells to obtain a paste compsn.    ADVANTAGE -   The protective screen and the insolubiliser addn. prevent leakage. The cell mfg. process is easily and inexpensively adapted to all types of mfg. lines.
All-vanadium redox battery has the following components:-(I) a positive compartment, contg. a catholyte with tetravalent and/or pentavalent V ions and stabilising/kinetic enhancing ions selected from Au, Mn, Pt, Ir, Ru, Os, Re, Rh, Sb, Te, Pb, and Ag ions in contact with a positive carbon electrode. The stabilising / kinetic enhancing ions are at a concn. sufficient to suppress etching of the C electrode during conversion of tetravalent V to pentavalent V at that electrode;    (II) a negative compartment contg. an anolyte with di-, tri-and/or tetra-valent V ions and H2-inhibiting ions selected from Pb, Bi, Tl, Hg, Cd, In, Ag, Be, Ga, Sb, As, Zn, Ca and Mg ions in electrical contact with a negative carbon electrode. The H2-inhibiting ions are at a concn. sufficient to increase H2 overvoltage and suppress H2 co-evolution at that electrode during conversion of divalent ions to tri- and/or tetra-valent ions; and    (III) as ionically-conducting separator disposed between the positive and negative compartments, and in contact with the anolyte and catholyte, to provide ionic communication between hem.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell is stabilised and kinetically enhanced, and H2 evolution during charging is inhibited.
Electrochemical cells are constructed by coating the anode and/or cathode structures with a liq. soln. of mucopolysaccharide (I) in dil. acid; gelling the coating by contacting wiht alkaline liq.; and bringing the two structures into contact by means of the gel coatings. Opt. the contact is made through a porous separator similarly coated in like manner. the gel coating may be crosslinked prior to assembly of the cell by contact with a soln. of a crosslinking agent (II).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Leakproof alkaline cells can be obtd. using the novel gelled electrolyte which takes on the electrochemical properties of the alkali whilst retaining the desirable mechanical properties of a strong gel. The crosslinked gels have sufficient strength to eliminate the need for inert battery separators. This allows short inter electrode spacings of 0.0005-0.004 in.
(JP2607557-B2)      A thin thermo-voltaic secondary battery comprises a laminate of a collector layer of the anode, the active material of the anode, polymeric solid electrolyte layer and a thin metal layer in order on an insulator. A metal phthalocyanine cpd. is distributed in the polymer matrix and opt. doped with iodine.    USE -   The battery is used to power liquid crystal displays, calculators, back-up supply for IC cards, temp. and pressure sensors.
(US5019467-A)      A thin prim cell, in the form of at least one ply of a flexible film of a thickness sufficiently thin to allow the film to be cut by scissors to a length providing a selected size and capacity, having a thickness of not more than 0.10mm consists of a positive current collection layer composed of a first polymer and a particulate conductive material selected from carbon grains, carbon fibres, graphite and metallic oxides dispersed in a matrix of the first polymer and having a thickness of 0.1-20 microns, a positive active layer consisting of a particulate manganese dioxide dispersed in a second polymer and having a thickness of 0.1-20 microns: a solid polyelectrolyte layer composed of a matrix of a non-crystalline polymer and an alkali metal salt dispersed in the non-crystalline polymeric matrix and having a thickness of 0.1-10 microns; and a thin metallic film layer having a thickness of 1-50 microns.
The vacuum tubes are sealed during mfr. by inserting an elastomeric sealing part between each pair of tubes to be sealed, the shape and size of the part being suitable for sealing the tube surfaces. The elastomer must be resistant to heat, nitrogen, oxygen, ozone, atmospheric radiations and all types of pollution, in order to obtain a durable seal.
Rollable solar panel has a flexible mixed polymer base, complementary lateral panels of the same material, a heat conducting layer on the base of polymer and metal, and transverse passages and a circuit including collectors and distributors defined between the base and the heat conducting layer.    The panel pref. has an insulating layer of ethylene-propylene copolymer foam. The metal is pref. stainless steel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For domestic water heating or as a radiator. The panel is cheap, light, and easy to install.
Electrolyte feeder for battery has a container (1) comprising a shell body filled with electrolyte in spaced cell units (2) equal in number to the number of individual cells in a dry charged storage battery. Each shell body has a filling tube (3), the tubes being spaced to coincide with the spacing between filling ports (17) of the battery to enable the tubes to fit into the ports in one to one correspondence. Each filling port has an upward extending cylindrical filling sleeve (20) which is designed to open a shell body by breaking a thin film (6) formed at the tip end of a filling tube.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electrolyte feeder enables filling of a correct amount of electrolyte into a battery quickly employing little labour without any need to cut a tip end of a container with scissors. Each cell of the battery receives the same amount of electrolyte.
(US5066861-A)      X ray detector comprises a first layer (8) of a material which receives X-rays and generates visible light at an intensity which corresponds to the intensity of the received X-rays, and a light to electrical signal converter (20) which receives light from the first layer and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light. The light to electrical signal converter (20) comprises a base layer (3), an amorphous semiconductor light to electrical signal converting layer (5) and electrodes (4, 6) from which the electrical signals are derived, the light to electric signal converter (20) being constructed so as not to absorb any significant amount of X-rays.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. placed between an X-ray source and a patient to measure and control the amount of X-rays used to obtain a radiographic image. Provides an X-ray detector which does not appear in the radiographic image picture, even though the detector is smaller than the field of the picture. (First major country equivalent to J01114782-A) @(15pp Dwg.No.1/24)@
The insulating sleeve for a primary cell consists of a wound paper strip surfaced with a plastic material. One paper strip with a film covering on the upper side is wound with one edge folded round underneath, this folded edge overlaps then the edge of the other side during the winding process, and a second paper strip is bonded on underneath.    ADVANTAGE -   The insulation for the solvent electrode is produced by a simple wrapping method. Apart from providing good electrical insulation it also produces completely effective sealing against electrolyte.
A solar heating unit has a transparent but insulating front face and a backing which absorbs the radiation, with an air gap between these; at least part of the insulating layer is divided into separate segments which are hinged about an axis. The segments are preferably faced on both sides with a silicate glass and are made of foam, capillary glass, fibre mat or polymethylmethacrylate.    ADVANTAGE -   The construction is simple yet prevents the structure from becoming overheated (e.g. in summer).
Photovoltaic module (10) includes a panel (18-24) with front and back sides and edges including at least one photovoltaic cell capable of converting radiation incident on the front side of the panel to electrical energy, and a unitary reaction injection moulded elastomer (30) partly encapsulating the panel and forming a seal over the back side, the edges and a portion of the front of the panel adjacent the edges.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a weatherproof photovoltaic cell which can be used, e.g. as an automobile sun roof. Provides a simplified process for mfr. and lamination of a module having greater durability and improved sealing.
A non-aq. soln. of an electrolyte is solidified by absorbing nonaq. soln. into high water-absorptive resin comprising modified polyethylene oxide and prepd. by reacting polyethylene oxide with a mono- or polyisocyanate cpd.    The electrolyte is pref. e.g. LiClO4 or LiBF4 for lithium cell or LiClO4 for electrochromic element. The solvent is e.g., ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate or gamma-butyro-lactone. The polyethylene oxide is pref. e.g., homopolymer or copolymer with polypropylene oxide or butylene oxide or their mixt. The monodiisocyanate is e.g., n-propyl-, n-butyl-, n-hexyl-, dedecyl-, octadecyl-, cyclohexyl-, benzyl- or phenyl isocyanate. The polyisocyanate is pref. e.g., 1,4-phenyl diisocyanate, hexane diisocyanate, decane diisocyanate, thioethyl diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, 1,3-dimethylbenzole-2,4-diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, polymethylenepolyphenyl isocyanate, urethane triisocyanate, polyisocyanate adduct, etc. The modified polyethylene oxide is pref. prepd. by reacting polyethylene oxide with a mono- or poly-isocyanate cpd. in an amt. = 0.01-5 wt.% of the polyethylene oxide in the form of a soln., dispersion or powdery mixt. at 50-150 deg.C in the presence of a minor amt. triethylamine, triethanol amine, dibutyl Sn dilaurate, dibutyl Sn diacetate, triethylene diamine, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solidified soln. has good conductivity and is handled easily. it is usable as an electrolyte for cell or electrochromic element without the leak of content.
Patterned film comprises an electrode substrate, film of aromatic monomer coated on the substrate and prepd. by electrolytic oxidn., patterned electrolytic film coated on a film of oxidised aromatic cpd. and conductive film on the patterned film.    The substrate is, e.g., glass, plastic film, ceramic sheet, paper or mineral sheet coated with a metal oxide or a metal shett. The aromatic monomer is, e.g., biphenyl, p-or o-terphenyl, carbazole, N-ethyl carbazole, N-phenyl pyrrole, etc. It is applied to the substrate by vacuum deposition or sputtering or by drying a spin-coated soln. contg. the aromatic monomer. The electrolyte is alkali metal or alkaline earth metal iodide, bromide, chloride, aluminate, axide, trifluoromethane sulphonate,e tc. blended with a low mol. wt. matrix (e.g. crown ether), polymer matrix (e.g., ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, polyethylene imine, etc.). The electrolyte is coated in the form of a pattern by vaccum deposition, sputtering, screen printing, etc. The conductive film is metal or metal oxide formed, by vacuum deposition, sputtering, sputtering, etc. The laminated board has applied to it a direct voltage between the positive base board electrode and the top anode of the conductive film to perform the electrolytic oxidn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The patterned film has high uniformity and is prepd. easily. It has similar performance such as conductivyt, oxidn.-redn. performance, electrochromism, etc. to a film prepd. by electrolytic polymerisation. It is usable in sec. cells, sensors and display elements.
The polymer solid electrolyte of a metallic salt is dissolved in polymer cpd. crosslinked with amorphous polymer, holding a high dielectric solvent in nets of the polymer by a phase-transfer agent as media. Opt. the high dielectric solvent is 1,3-dimethylimidazorisinon, the phase transfer agent is quaternary ammonium salt and etc.    In the prepn. 5 pts. wt. trifunctionality polyether is dissolved in 9 wt% lithium perchloriate and 1 wt% t-butyl ammonium chloride. 1 pt. of 1,3-dimethylimidazorisinon 7 wt% lithium perchlorate and 0.5 wt% t-butyl ammonium chloride are added and equivalent amt of hexamethylene di-isocyanate and minor di-n-butyl tin diacetate, are added and mixed,maintained at 80 deg C in an inert gas and react to form crosslinked film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte applies to solid state secondary cell with ionic conductivity.
A terrestrial solar generator (1) consists of solar cells (2), a casting cpd. (3) and two glass plates (4), all surrounded by a plastic frame (5). The whole is produced by a reaction injection moulding technique, using a multi-component polyurethane elastomer.    ADVANTAGE -   Other functional elements form an integral unit with the frame.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell, in which O2 may evolve on charge, overcharge or reversal of cell polarity, includes an auxiliary electrochemical transfer electrode provided for the anode and sepd. from it by a separator sheet. The auxiliary electrode is in electronic and ionic contact with the anode, is at least partially wetted by the electrolyte, and comprises porous carbon bonded with polytetrafluoroethylene. The metal oxide cathode may comprise MnO mixed with 5-20 wt.% graphite, or NiO (10-20 wt.%) mixed with Ag2O, Fe2O3, MnO2, or graphite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention is useful in sealed cells, e.g. rechargeable cells such as Zn/MnO2 cells with a KOH electrolyte. It provides an economic means of accelerating the consumption of O2 by the anode.
A chemical heat pump has a filler layer comprising porous rubber, e.g. expanded natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene copolymer rubber, fluoro rubber, or silicone rubber which is formed using azodicarbonamide, N,N'-dinitrosopentamethylene tetramine, p-toluene sulphonylhydrazide, etc contg calcium chloride as a reactant, together with an alloy powder, a ceramic powder such as alumina powder, etc, in the container of chemical heat pump.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The chemical heat pump is used in solar energy-powered air-conditioning system, etc, and has high reliability because breakage of the filler layer can be prevented even when the reactant used expands twice.
Sensor comprises a photocell sensing radiation passing through a filter and emitting signals. The filter and photocell (20) are sealed from the exterior and cooled to below set max. levels by a conductive metal block (16) forming a recess (19) in which the filter and photocell are located in heat-exchange relation with the block.    " located in heat-exchange A thermoelectric crystal (68) has a heat-absorbing side in exchange relation with the block and a heat-generating side exposed to the atmos. The filter transmits only UV radiation and is located behind a PTFE window which forms part of the sealing enclosure. The crystal is pref. entirely outside the block and has circuitry so that it can also heat the block to provide min. temp. maintenance.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For use in accelerated ageing tests, improves sensing accuracy and operating life.
A new device for recombination of hydrogen and oxygen in lead acid batteries comprises an electrode stack enclosed in a microporous separtaor, partially immersed in the electrolyte, and connected to the accumulators negative pole via a diode. The electrodes comprise a tungsten carbide catalyst which may be combined with activated carbon and organometallic compounds. The catalyst is pressed into grids or lead or lead alloy at 50-400 deg.C and contains 5-60 wt% binder. The organometallic material is porphyrins or azulenes produced by thermal treatment in an inactive medium at temp. 300-1000 deg.C at levels of 0.01 to 1g/sq cm. Prefd. binder is PTFE, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene etc.    ADVANTAGE -   The device enables efficient recombination of hydrogen and oxygen produced in either stoichiometric or nonstoichiometric proportion because of the change in voltage at the electrode. The electrode does not glow and hence there is no explosion risk. Tungsten does not enter the electrolytic and reach the main electrodes. Hence the production of hydrogen or oxygen is not catalysed. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8914)
The electrodes and separator are assembled in a rolled config. so that metal hydride, hydrogen storage negative electrode forms the outer layer. The electrode roll and electrolyte are arranged in the cell can so that the negative electrode contacts the can. The wall of the can above the electrode roll is deformed to form a stiffened sealing lip. A reinforced cover is placed on top of the assembly and a vent perforation is formed. An insulating sealing ring of polysulphone is attached to the circumference of the cover and a vent plug is palced on top of the vent perforation. The plug deforms to cell pressures of 200-500 psi. A Ni plated steel vent plug is metallurgically attached to the cover plate. Wall sections above the sealing lip are folded at an angle of less than 90 deg. Then pressed over to form a 90 deg. orientation to the wall. The folded area is curled over the cover and the wall sections radially compressed to form an airtight seal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Lightweight rechargeable cell which allows venting of gases before explosive conditions are reached.
Packing sheet comprises a glass sheet laminated with a sealant layer.    The glass sheet is e.g. Pyrex glass, soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, Zn borosilicate glass, etc. having a thickness = 50-200 microns. The sealant layer comprises polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and laminated on the glass sheet with an adhesive layer (e.g. polyolefin resin modified by a carboxylic acid, polyolefin resin modified by a silane cpd., ionomer or partial hydrolysate of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.). The glass sheet is opt. surface treated by a silane coupling agent (e.g. aminosilane, vinyl silane or epoxysilane or polyolefin resin modified by a carboxylic acid or a silane cpd. for improving further the adhesion with the glass sheet and the adhesive layer and/or the sealant layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sheet is usable as the outermost layer of solar cells or electroluminescence elements. It has substantially complete moisture-proofing performance and retains the moisture-proofing performance for a long period without including a desiccant.
Solar heat collector appts. comprises water flow passages, each with innermost layer made of ethylene-alpha-olefin polyene copolymer rubber vulcanised and outermost layer made of same rubber contg. C black.    USE -   Used for air heaters and warm water supplies. (J58164953-A)
An accumulator has a sealed casing of fibres coated in synthetic resin, condensers in the casing under an atmosphere of pressurised dielectric gas, blocks supporting capacitors within the casing, and blocks outside the casing supporting its weight.    A method of making the casing and a Marx generator including the accumulator are also claimed.    The casing is pref of glass or carbon fibres and polyurethane. The gas is pref a mixture of nitrogen and sulphur hexafluoride.    ADVANTAGE -   The accumulator is light and transportable.
Laminate film has a clear base film layer having projections surrounded with recesses on the surface. A metal layer is formed on one side of the base layer and reflection preventing layer is formed on the metal layer. (J58183247-A)
Solid-state Li battery comprises a lithium composite anode, a polymeric electrolyte, and a cathode. The improvement comprises: an anode having a base metal layer, a multiplicity of lithium particles on the base metal layer, a number of which are in fused adherent contact with the metal layer and all of which are in electrical and mechanical contact with each other, with spaces between forming an irregular porous layer on the base metal layer for contact with the electrolyte whereby ion exchange is intensified.
(JP93032912-B)      Film comprises an electrolysed polymer film of Ru or Os complex of 5-aminophenanthroline. It may be made by doping a Ru complex of basophenanthroline sulphonic acid in a conductive high polymer.    Used for solar cells and optical sensors. (J64057763-A)
A gas permeable porous body is made by mixing electrically conductive powder and a water repellent polymer; heating the mixt. to a temp. higher than the m.pt. of the polymer, and compression moulding the obtd. powder.    USE -   For supporting the catalyst layer of the electrodes of fuel cells. Using the porous body, a high performance electrode having less concn. of polarisation may be obtd.
An alkali metal-halogen electrochemical cell (10) with an alkali metal anode (32) in contact with a solid electrolyte (68), has an anode coating (70,72) comprising a thin film of substrate impregnated with an organic electron donor. Also claimed is a Li-halogen cell as above in which the coating adhering to the Li anode surface comprises a thin film of synthetic open-mesh fabric impregnated with organic electron donor. Further claimed are an anode for an alkali metal-halogen cell as above, comprising an alkali metal anode body (32) in contact with solid electrolyte (68), with an anode electrical conductor (38), and the anode coating contg. organic electron donor, and this cell with a Li anode. Also claimed are an alkali metal-oxyhalide cell with the coating as above, and a Li-oxyhalide cell of this type. Additionally claimed is a method of coating the oeprative surface of an anode for the cells above which impregnates a thin film of substrate with the organic material and applies it to the anode surface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A convenient, effective and economical anode coating for Li-haligen or Li-oxyhalide cells is provided. The flexibility of the coating improves shaping and bonding. Cell performance is indistinguishable from that of brush-coated cells.
Solid state electrochemical cell has an anode (14) cathode (10) and polymeric electrolyte (16). Electrode(s) (10) is in the form of many spheres, each comprising active electrode material core (13) encapsulated in an electronic and ionic conducting polymer film (12) to form an electronic and ionic conducting network.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of encapsulated spheres as the electrode gives increased surface area, performance characteristics and service life.
A thermally actuated hydrogen secondary battery comprises: (1) A porous anode (2) having a thermally actuated anode-active solid reversible hydrogen-contg. inorganic cpd. which deintercalates hydrogen ions (H+) in a discharge cycle when exposed to thermal energy; the porous anode has (a) a first porous catalytic oxide film (4) of either RuO2, NeO2 or IrO2 on a side capable of converting hydrogen ions into hydrogen mols. in a discharge cycle, and (b) a secon porous catalytic metal film (5) of Pd or Pt black on another side capable of converting hydrogen mols. into hydrogen ions in a charge cycle; (2) A porous cathode (3) having a hydrogen ion-intercalatable cathode-active material which intercalates hydrogen ions (H+) in the above-defined discharge cycle; the porous cathode also has (a) a first porous catalytic metal film (5), and (b) a second porous catalytic oxide film (4), both as prefiously defined in a discharge and charge cycle respectively. (3) A porous solid electrolyte (6) between and within the porous anode/cathode and converting of hydrogen and/or helium; the electrolyte is a polymer complex of trifluoromethane sulphonic acid with a linear polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for converting solar thermal energy or waste heat into electrical energy, for utility load levelling, in electrical vehicles and military applications. Also, as the basis of an electrochemical sensor for either hydrogen or temp. determinations.
On the surface of a substrate having high permeability for the photosensitive wavelength of photosensitive resin to make lens array and having a low permeable zone, photosensitive resin is coated and exposed from the rear side to make semi-spherical lens pattern. On the amorphous image sensor on the transparent substrate, polymethylmethacrylate film (20 microns) is coated, and after heat treatment photosensitive polyimide film is coated (10 micro m) and exposed from the rear side by ultraviolet ray. After development and heat treatment, the polyimide pattern formed a false semi-spherical lens. The incinerated by level plane plate oxygen plasma incineration unit until polyimide is extinct. Polyimide pattern form is transferred and lens array of good transparency is obtd. convergence coefficiency is improved 1.5 times compared with the case without lens array.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for making e.g. image sensor, level liq. crystal display (LCD). Lens array can improve convergence coefficiency and photosensitivity, and widen visual field.
Electrolyte comprises lithium salt dissolved in organic solvent contg. polymer cpd. additives having quat. ammonium ion in the concn. range of 0.001-0.1 M(mol/l) to quat. ammonium ion.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Applied to prim. and sec. cells. The cell has high energy density with large discharge capacity and good cycle life.    In an example, electrolyte is prepd. comprising 1.5M LiAsF6 -ethylene carbonate/2-methyl THF with vol. ratio 1/2, controlled in impurity to less than 100 ppm. Polyvinyl benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (PVBA) and poly-di-allyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (PDDA) vacuum dried for 2 weeks at 80 deg.C in the concn. range of 0.0001-0.5 M(mol/l) based on quat. ammonium ion are added. Li-cell contains anode contg. 70 wt.% amorphous material (95 mol% V2O5-5mol% P2O5) as activator, 25 wt.% acetylene black as conductor and 5 wt.% teflon as binder to form 16mm dia. and 0.5mm thick pellets, Li cathode (17mm dia. and 15 mAh) and fine porous polypropylene sheet as separator. A charge and discharge test at 1mA, 2-3.5V and room temp. shows that Li charge and discharge efficiency is 95.3% with 0.01M of PDDA and 94.2% without PDDA.
Quinacridon film is prepd. by polymerising vapour of quinacridon cpd. in low temp. non-polymerisable gas plasma to form its polymerised film on substrate. Pref. the quinacridon deriv. is e.g. quinacridon or 3-methyl, 2,9- or 3,10-dimethyl-, 2-chloro-, 2,3-, 3,10-, 2,9- or 2,8-dichloro, 2,9-dimethoxy-, 2-chloro-4-methyl-, 2, 10-dichloro- 6,13-dihydroxy- or 3,4,10,11-tetrachloro-quinacridon. It is evaporated by heating it by means of heater, hf, I.R.- or laser-heater. The high vaporisation rate gives polymer with insufficient deg. of polymerisation and lower vaporisation rate gives polymer with high surface hardness and solvent resistance but low conversion and photo-electrical conversion. The vaporisation rate is pref. up to 10 mg/min. for electrode with dia. of 10 cm. The plasma polymerisation is carried out by introducing vapourised monomer into reactor filled with unpolymerised gas (e.g. air, Ar, N2, H2O, H2 or CO2) and maintained vacuum of 10 power(-5) - 10 power(2) Torr between 2 parallel electrodes connected to hf generator and generating plasma using parallel plate attached in or out of vacuum chamber or by forming electrical field by external induction coil to generate ionised gas plasma to provide output of up to 200 W per area of parallel electrode plate with dia. of 10 cm. The polymer film has thickness of 0.01-5 microns.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process provides plasma-polymerised quinacridon polymer film with high-flatness and -chemical and physical activity. Polymer film is used as coating film, optically active material or photoelectric convertor element.
An organic electrolyte compsn. comprises (A) matrix polymer comprising mainly a macromolecular monomer of formula (I), (B) an electrolyte salt and (C) an organic aprotic solvent. In (I), R1-R4 are each independently H or methyl, R5-R7 are each independently 1-20C alkyl or 6-20C aryl, Y = 1-20C divalent ester residue and m, n and p are each integer = 2-60.    Specifically the monomer (I) is prepd. from a cpd. of formula (II), cpd. of formula (III) and tetrachlorosilane by a known method. In (II) and (III), R1 and R8 are each independently H or methyl, R9 = 1-20C alkyl or 6-20C aryl and n is an integer = 2-60. Cpd. (II) is e.g. 2-hydroxyethyl-, 2-hydroxypropyl- or 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate. Cpd. (III) is e.g., di- or triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol having ave. mol.wt. = 350-2000, polypropylene glycol having ave. mol. wt. = 400-3000, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. shows high ionic conductivity at room temp. and high film forming activity. It contains high content as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide and has a low glass transition pt. It contains a large amt. electrolytic salt in the matrix and it is swollen into an aprotic solvent to enhance the ionic migration and to provide a solid or semi-solid electrolyte having very high ionic conductivity. It is usable as a solid electrolyte for batteries or in electrochromic displays.
A heated wall is hollow and encloses serpentine pipework of copper, steel or crosslinked polyethylene, mounted on a metallic grid or the inside of the radiant face of the wall, and enveloped in plaster or polyurethane or polystyrene resin expanded within the wall cavity. Through the pipework is circulated fluid at up to 65 deg C and 3.5 bar.    USE -   Esp. for mfr. of modular panels of 2.50 x 1.50 m for use as internal or external walls for background or central heating or for utilising trapped solar energy and heating loft spaces.
Carbazole deriv. is of formula (I): R is 2-15C alkyl, alkyl substd. with cycloalkyl or aryl or 5-7C cycloalkyl and polymerisation deg. n is 2-500.    Pref. a cpd. of formula (I) can be prepd. by Grignard coupling of N-substd.-3,6-dibromocarbazole in solvent e.g. ethyl ether, THF and dioxane not reactive to Grignard reagents.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides new electrically- and photoconductive macromolecular cpds. with shaping properties, useful in electronic devices and batteries. Introduction of alkyl with at least 2 carbon atoms to N-position of carbazole makes carbazole soluble in solvents with carbozole obtaining shaping properties.
A solar collector, and its method of formation which comprises (a) forming a base of heat insulating material of a standard width but selected length and having a channel of selected dimensions therealong to receive in use a fluid container; (b) forming a transparent or translucent top or cap having a standard width and a selected length so that by combining the base and cap together a collector is formed having a standard width but a selected length so as to enable one of a range of containers to be mounted on the base; so that (c) the only dimension of the cap which need be changed to accommodate various sizes of container is the length thereof.    ADVANTAGE -   The collector has a substantially standard width so that the dimensions of the cap except for the length are able to be standard. Extra depth and length of the container is accounted for by variations in the length and depth of the base material which enables various collectors to be provided in a simple yet effective manner.
An ion-conducting polymeric materials contains (a) one or more structural materials (pref. a polymer); (b) one or more low mass plasticisers; (c) one or more amorphous ion-solvating polymers (pref. contg. CH2CH2O repeat units); and opt. (d) one or more ionic salts.    (a) is poly(ethylene oxide) and (c) is an oxymethylene-linked polyethylene glycol with repeat sequence -(CH2CH2O)aCH2O- where ave. valve of a=4-10.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Current densities carried by the electrolytes at ambient temps. are improved by increasing the conductivity of the electrolyte and altering its temp. dependence, esp. at low temps. BY use of the 3 or 4 components, the problems of kinetic instability and recrystallisation are reduced. Hence, the ion-solvating polymers (c) which are pref. of the type described in GB2164047, became compatible with battery thin film electrolytic requirements. Electrolytic cells and batteries with the polymeric materials as electrolytes can be used e.g. in elec. vehicles, computer memory back-ups, heart pacemakers and integrated power sources for PCBs.
Battery consists of a flexible transparent substrate, electroconductive transparent current collector layer on the substrate, photo-electroconductive semiconductor layer, organic compound layer having producing halide by reaction with halogen or halide ion, plastic solid electrolyte layer and a counter electrode layer contg mobile metal ions of the solid electrolyte.
A gas tight, service free lead accumulator of high capacitance, includes a thixotropic sulphuric acid gel electrolyte, positive and negative electrode plates sepd. by a separator, a housing, lid and safety valve. The positive terminal is located at the bottom of the arrangement while the valve is located at the top. The lower region is filled with a material which is non porous to the electrolyte, pref. a polyurethane foam.    ADVANTAGE -   The accumulator is efficient and reliable.
In a photoelectric conversion thin film used in photo diode, etc. monomolecular layer of a Rhodamine dye, of formula (I) (where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are alkyl, at least one of which is a 10-30C lonq-chain alkyl) are laminated on a conductive base plate, e.g. metal such as Al, Ag, etc., glass plate, a plastic film, by an LB method, etc.    Pref. thickness of the conductive base plate is 0.1-10m/m for glass plate and 10-200 Angstroms for thin metal film formed on the base olate such as glass plate, etc. The pref. number of the laminated layers of the monomolecular film of the Rhodamine dye is usually 2-20, more pref. 5-11 for optimum photoelectric conversion. The Rhodamine dye laminated film is pref. film composed of a mixt. of Rhodamine dye and 10-30 C long-chain fatty acid such as stearic acid, etc., may be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The photoelectric conversion thin film is used in photo diodes, solar cells, etc., with high quality photoelectric conversion. B
Arrangement (I) has as essential components at least 2 electrodes contg. as active materials organic cpds. made conductive by chemical or electrochemical oxidn. or redn., standing in direct physical contact with each other or sepd. by a separator.    Electrodes are contacted with metallic conductor. Active material of electrodes is intrinsically conductive polymer, partic. polyacetylene, polyphenylene, or pyrrole, thiophen, or aniline polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   E.g., power sources for computer memory back-up. (I) have high storage capacity, can be charged rapidly with desired polarity.
Prepn. of cell having aq. electrolyte and polyanilines which is oxidation polymer of anilines as positive anode activator. The polyaniline is prepd. by raw polyaniline which synthesised in acidic soln. is dedoped electrochemically and then redoped as required.    Polyaniline is synthesised on action electrode by electrolytic oxidn. of 0.2 mol aniline in 1.0 mol aniline in 1.0 mol HBF aq. soln. using platinum as action electrode and counter electrode to reference electrode as 0.8 V at room temp.    ADVANTAGE -   The sec. cell has the properties of higher energy density compared with conventional one.
A transparent capsule consists of a transparent head part of almost hemispherical shape and a transparent cylindrical part extending from the head part. The head part and the cylindrical port are formed integrally in almost uniform thickness. If the radius of the hemispherical head part is R, the length of th e cylindrical part is approx. 1/2 R.    In the mfr. of the transparent capsule: a disc of transparent material is held so that its periphery is airtight. Hot pressurised air is applied to the disc from above and vacuum is applied from below to form a spherical part to form part of a sphere. Hot pressurised air is applied to the periphery so that the cylindrical part extending from the spherical part is formed with the aid of the weight of the disk-shaped material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This transparent capsule is used for the sunlight collecting device. This transparent capsule allows sunlight to react the sunlight collecting device to be installed in the capsule.
A utility building comprises a tunnel of insulating material (I) carried on or between layers (4) of woven polyethylene tarpaulins supported in turn by arches (2) of metal or other structural material. (I) may be of mineral (glass) wool. The composite tunnel is supported by and pinned to a pair of parallel plinths (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for industrial or agricultural purposes for e.g., cold storage, hangers, funciculture, pasteurisation rooms etc. Relatively cheap to build, erect and maintain, for a weatherproof and insulating enclosure.
Appts. comprises a tank composed of an inner polypropylene sheet and outer fibre-reinforced thermosetting resin sheet sepd. by expandable woven web.    Used for solar heat collectors and hot water supplies. (J58049851-A)
Electrolytic polymer produced by electrolytic-polymerisation of N-phenyl benzidine of formula (I) is new.    The electrolytic polymer is pref. obtd. by dissolving (1) monomer of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrode and depositing polymer on the electrode. Component (2), e.g. (n-C4H9)4NC1O4, (C2H5)4NBF4, is purified and vacuum-dried prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymer is useful as electrochromic display elements and can be used in solar batteries, sec. batteries, image sensors. The polymer is electrochemically active film and polychromic and has fine reversibility.    In an example, 0.68 g of tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (Cpd.I) as an electrolyte and 0.026 g of N-phenylbenzidine as a monomer were dissolved in 20 ml of acetonitrile with a magnetic stirrer. The electrolytic liq. obtd. was charged in an electrolytic cell. Ito glass (surface resistance 20-30 ohms) as working electrode, platinum wire as counter electrode, and SCE as reference electrode were set in the cell. The electrolytic liq. was electrolytically-polymerised by applying O V to 1.5 V to O V to SCE at 50 mV/sec. for 5 cycles. The polymerised film was red and insol. in methanol, acetone and tetrahydrofuran.
Electrolytic polymer is produced by electrolytic-polymerising biphenyl amine cpd. of formula (I). The electrolytic polymer is obtd. by dissolving (1) monomer of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrodes and depositing polymer on the electrode. (2) e.g. (n-C4H9)4NClO4, (C2H5)4NBF4 is purified and vacuum-dired prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymer is useful as electrochromic display elements and is expected to be used for the mfr. of solar batteries, sec. batteries, image censors. The polymer is electrochemically active film and polychromic and has fine reversibility.
Electrolytic polymers produced by electrolytic-polymerising cpds. of formula (I) are claimed. (R = H or a 1-5C alkyl).    The electrolytic polymers are obtd. by dissolving (1) monomers of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrode and depositing polymers on the electrode. (2) e.g. (n-C4H9)4NC1O4, (C2H5)4NBF4 is purified and vacuum-dried prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymers are useful as electrochromic display elements and are used for the mfr. of solar batteries, sec. batteries, image sensors. The polymers are electrochemically active film and polychromic and have fine reversibility.
Multilayer photovoltaic cell is made by: forming a CdTe layer; applying a chloride soln. pref. a 1% Cd chloride soln. in methanol; heat treating, pref. at about 415 deg C; etching the heat treated surface; and adding a further layer, pref. a semiconductor layer. Pref. the CdTe layer is electro-deposited from an aq. soln.    Cell is formed by : depositing CdS on a substrate; depointing CdTe on the CdS; treating the CdTe layer with CdCl2 soln. as above; depositing a ZnTe layer on the CdTe layer; and adding an electrical contact.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mfr. of a high efficiency, low cost heterojunction p-i-n solar cell.
(JP2696916-B2)      Manufacture of the matrix layer of phosphoric acid type fuel batteries comprises impregnating an electrode catalyst layer (3) with phosphoric acid, then adhering fine inorganic particles (2) to the surface of the catalyst layer (3).    ADVANTAGE -   Binders are not needed and the matrix shape can be maintained.
G18
(JP2504522-B2)      The fused carbonate type fuel battery includes an electrolyte plate placed between an anode electrode on one side and a cathode electrode on the other, and a separator plate which isolates the anode gas from the cathode gas. The battery consists of several layers of such an arrangement from top to bottom. An upper end plate and a lower end plate are arranged at the top and bottom of the multilayer body. An electrolyte storage space is located in the upper end plate section and is divided into two chambers by means of a plate. Compressed gas is supplied to the storage space, and electrolyte in the storage space is supplied to each electrolyte plate when required.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery can be easily replenished with electrolyte. The battery structure is compact. The operating life of the battery is extended.
Polyimide compsnsn. comprise (A) copolymerised polyimides consisting mainly of repeating units of formulae (I) and (II) and (B) polyimides comprising mainly repeating units of formula (III) at a wt. ratio of A/B = 1/20-1 and have a coefft. of linear expansion of below 2.0 x 10 power -5 cm/cm K. Where Ar1 is a gp. (i)-(iii), R1 gps of formula (iv) or (v), where X = O, SO2, C(CH3)2 C(CF3)2 or CH2); R2 = a gp. of formula (vi) or (vii) (R3,R5 = dihydric organic gps. R4,R6 = monohydric organic gps; p,q = integers of larger than 1); l, m, n = integers of larger than 1, l/n = 100-1, R7 = a gp. of formula (viiii) or (ix), (R' = a lower alkyl, lLower alkoxy, fluorinated lower alkyl, fluorinated lower alkoxy,halogen.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The polyimide compsns. are useful for the mfr. of semiconductor devices having passivation film or alpha ray-intercepting film, and solar batteries.
A solid O2- ion conducting material for use as a fuel cell electrolyte (152) is a monocrystal or polycrystal structure of compsn. Al-xBxz, where A is one or more of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium or scandium, B is one of strontium, calcium, barium or magnesium, x is in the range 0 to 0.999, Z is F3-x or OcFd with c between 0.0001 and 1.5, d between 0.0001 and 3.0 and 2c + d = 3-x. When A is lanthanum, Z is F3-x and x = 0 the material must be a monocrystal. Pref. A is lanthanum an dB is strontium. When the material is a monocrystal the thickness of the electrolyte layer is between 1 and 300 microns and when it is a polycrystal the laye thickness is between 1 adn 100 microns. Also claimed as a solid material for a fuel cell electrolyte is a monocrystal or polycrystal of PbSnF4 or PbF2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of the claimed materials as solid electrolytes permits operation of hydrogen-oxygen (air) fuel cells at much lower temps. than is possible with known ceramic oxide materials.
A semiconductor material is bonded to an aluminium foil by: 1.Providing an aluminium foil (1) contg. discrete spaced apertures (5), 2. Placing spherically-shaped semiconductor material (7) adjacent to the apertures. 3. Heating the foil and semiconductor material at 500-577 deg.C and 4. Moving the semiconductor material into the apertures under force shearingly to move the material, pref. under impact, such that native oxides on the surface of the foil are sheared to expose the underlying aluminium bonding.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for mating solar cells and solar arrays. Prodn. is cheaper due to relatively inexpensive fabrication, a requirement for relatively few materials, and a flexibility of the array.
(US4980247-A)      Appts. comprises: an electrolyte source (28); a header (22) provided vertically along a side of the cell lamination (1) and connected to the source; supply pipes (23) between cells and header, the flow resistance in the pipes being greater than in the header; and a pressure port (29) operating with the source for supplying electrolyte through the header and pipes to the cells solely under the pressure exerted through the pressure port.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrolyte can be supplement in any desired amt. in a short period of time. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Electricity is generated in a fuel cell in which a membrane which is selectively permeable to cations separates an anode compartment from a cathode compartment, and an alkaline electrolyte and hydrogen are introduced into the anode compartment and an acid electrolyte and oxygen are introduced into the anode compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In a pref. embodiment, the fuel cell is operated in conjunction with a membrane electrolysis cell used for electrolysis of aq. NaCl to produce chlorine and NaOH soln. The chlorine is recovered as a prod. stream and the NaOH soln. is fed into the anode compartment of the fuel cell together with hydrogen generated at the cathode of the electrolysis cell. Simultaneously, aq. HCl and air or oxygen are fed to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell. Electrolyte is withdrawn from the cathode compartment of the fuel cell and passed to the aq. NaCl soln. inlet to the electrolysis cell and aq. NaOH soln. withdrawn from the anode compartment of the fuel cell is passed to the NaOH soln. inlet to the cathode compartment of the electrolysis cell. The present fuel cells give a higher electromotive force (EMF) than previous H2/O2 fuel cells and when used in conjunction with an NaCl brine electrolysis cell, provide a unit for prodn. of electricity and chlorine. (Previously notified in week 8950)
Process, and apparatus, for converting a fuel on the basis of hydrocarbon into electricity by (a) catalytically converting the fuel into a hydrogen-contg. gas; (b) passing the hydrogen contg. gas through at least one" pressure-swing" adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen gas stream of high purity, as well as a desorption gas; and (c) supplying the hydrogen gas stream of high purity to the anode compartments of at least one fuel cell stack in operating at a temp. of at least 140 deg.C, in which electricity is generated.    ADVANTAGE -   The reliability of the overall system has been considerably enhanced. By virtue of both the high purity of the feed to the anode and the reduced integration of the various parts of the plant the reliability proves to be considerably improved.
Si has a concn. ratio of the O to C content less than 2:1, as determined by means of IR, and a total concn. of O and C impurities of 3-200 ppm.    Pref. the total O and C impurity concn.is 5-100 ppm. In the prodn. C content of the Si is reduced first, then the O content is regulated by outgassing O2. The Si is produced by redn. of gaseous SiCl4 with solid Al.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This Si is claimed for use in the prodn. of solar cells. It has improved photovoltaic properties.
The solar cell consists of a semiconductor substrate (1) and epitaxial layer (3) of the same conductivity type, an epitaxial layer (4) of the opposite type and a buffer layer (2) of the same conductivity type as the substrate but with a bandgap energy greater than that of the photoelectric conversion layer (3,4). The feature claimed is that a light reflecting layer (9) is used between the buffer layer (2) and the substrate (1).    Pref. materials are n-GaAs for the substrate and n-type conversion layer (3), p-GaAs for the p-type conversion layer (4) and n-GaA1As for the buffer layer (2). The reflective layer (9) consists of a material from the group: A1xGa1-xAs, GaAsyP1-y or InGa1-xAs. The reflective layer (9) is pref. a superlattice formed by lamination of type 1 and type 2 layers which have different reflection rates. Type 1 is pref. an A1xGa1-xAs material, type 2 is pref. GaAs. The thickness of the layer (9) multiplied by the refractive index is pref. 1/4 of the wavelength to be reflected. In the case of a laminated layer this condition applies to both types of layers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The presence of the reflective layer allows reduction of the distance between buffer layer and conversion layer. This gives more conversion even while carrier diffusion lengths are reduced during irradiation. The bufferlayer (2) and combined buffer- and reflection layer (12) also provide a back surface field (BSF) effect. The components are used as photoelectric converters.
This fuel-cell power plant includes (a) a number of fuel-cell electrice-generator modules, each of which has three sub-systems, (b) an arrangement for producing a reciprocal connection between the compressed-air sub-systems in at least two fo the electric-generator modules, (c) a valve arrangement in the connection, (d) a sensor arrangement for monitoring the current from the generators, and (e) an operational control arrangement connected to the sensor arrangement, to the compressed-air sub-systems, and to the valve arrangement.    Variants claimed include a range of 2 to 5 in the number of generator modules, and a range of 1 to 4 in the number of generator modules whose compress-air sub-systems can be switched off when the demand for current falls below a specified value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A pressure-type fuel-cell power plant is offered that gives improved operating efficiency at part loads.
New method for preparing electrocatalytic oxides or applying them to fluoropolymer substrates that cannot be heated to temp. sufficiently high to convert electrocatalytic salts into electrocatalytic oxide comprises (a) dissolving salts of Ru and Ni in a solvent to form an electrocatalytic salt soln.; (b) evaporating the solvent, leaving an electrocatalytic salt residue; (c) heating said residue in the presence of O2 to a temp. for a time sufficient to convert substantially all of the electrocatalytic salt into an electrocatalytic oxide and (d) bonding the so-formed electrocatalytic oxide to a fluoropolymer substrate that would be detrimentally affected if the substrate was heated to 480-500 deg.C.    (1) Electrocatalytic salts are opt. halides, nitrates, sulphates or phosphates and are pref. chlorides. 2) Solvent in an organic alcohol or H2O, 3) Fluorocarbon membrane is a copolymer of at least two types of monomer (I) and (II): (I) CF2=CZZ' where Z,Z'= H,-Cl,-F or -CF3. (II) Y-(CF2)a-(CFRf)10-(CFRf')c-O-(CF(CF2X)-CF2-O)n-CF=CF2. Y=-SO2Z, -CN, -COZ or -C(R2f)(R4f)OH, where Z=-I, -Br, -Cl, -F, -OR or -NR1R2, and is pref. -SO2F or -COOMl; R= opt. branched 1-10C alkyl or aryl; R3f,R4f = 1-10C perfluoroalkyl; R1,R2 = -H or opt. branched 1-10C alkyl or aryl; a,b = 0-6, c = 0 or 1, provided that a+b+c does not equal 0 and pref. = 2 or 3; x = -Br or pref. -Cl or -F, or mixts, thereof when n is greater than 1, n = 0-6, Rf,Rf' = -F(pref), -Cl, 1-10C perfluoroalkyl or 1-10C fluorochloroalkyl.
C or graphite article is coated with SiC by: passing a stream of (halo)silane or halo-Si gas and co-reactant, carrier or diluent such as H2 through a hole in a high emissivity, thin, insulating septum into a reaction deposition chamber at a temp. above the m.pt. of Si to decompose the gas into liq. Si; removing residual gas; and contacting the article with liq. Si to coat the article with SiC.    The thin septum has one face below the decompsn. temp. of the gas and an opposite face exposed to the reaction chamber. The temp. in the reaction chamber is held at 1500-1800 deg.C. Pref. halo-silane is SiHCl3 and pref. halo-Si is SiF4 or SiCl4.    USE -   For coating objects with SiC, for solar cells etc.
Heterojunction device of p-type semiconductor is formed on surface of another semiconductor. The p-type semiconductor is practically linear conductive oxidn. polymer of repeat unit of quinone-diimine structure having the formula (I) and has high molecular wt. electrolyte. In (I), R = H or alkyl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device is applied to diode, solar cell etc. with improved rectification property. It has stable property since it has no oxidn. deterioration.
For formation of a surface reflective mirror with an FRP base, a polishable resin layer having a determined hardness is provided on an FRP base, the surface of the resin layer is polished, and a metal plate is formed on the polished surface of the resin layer by chemical vapour deposition.    The surface of the FRP base is coated with an epoxy resin to form a hard resin layer. This surface is then optically polished, and it is coated with a metal (Al or Ag) by CVD to form a metal plate layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The surface reflective mirror is formed with an FRP base having high relative rigidity and low thermal expansion coefft. It is usable in solar battery system for space exploration with high safety.
A precious metal loaded catalyst is produced by loading Pt-contg colloid particles on the surface of carbon particles; pulverising the carbon particles while changing the colloid particles into alloys or solid solution.    ADVANTAGE -   Carbon catalyst loaded with precious metals which are highly dispersed on the carbon surface can be obtd. The carbon catalyst has improved oxidn activity.
(JP2634188-B2)      The modifier (1) receives fuel and reforming gas from the carbon monoxide transformer (4) which are reacted with water in the presence of a transfer catalyst. Pressurised water is used for cooling the reforming gas of the battery (5) by which fuel is generated.    USE -   The phosphoric acid fuel battery is used as an electrical power generating device.    ADVANTAGE -   It uses a stable transfer catalyst and heat release is reduced.
Device has an optical activation layer comprising a phthalocyanine cpd. thin film which has a disordered particles arrangement.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a solar cell, CGL device of sensitiser and sensor with high photoelectric conversion rate.    In an example, 65g polyethylene glycol and 0.064g Na were mixed for 24 hrs. at 70 deg.V, 1.1g 1-ferrocenyl-12-undecane bromide were added and reacted for 10 hrs. at 110 deg.C. It was extracted with water-butanol, and chromatographically refined to form a micelle formation agent of formula (I). 31.5 ml water and 10 mg phthalocyanine were added to 1.130 mg of the agent and stirred for 3 days. The micelle was soln. sepd. 0.22g LiSO4 was added to 10 ml of its supernatant liq. to form 4.4 mM phthalocyanine/20 mM micelle formation agent/0.2M LiSO4 soln. Using it as electrolyte, ITO anode, Pt cathode, and satd. calomel electrode as reference electrode, it was electrolysed for 2 hrs. at 25 deg.V, 0.5 V constant, 7 micro A to form a phthalocyanine/ITO photoelectric conversion electrode.
A curved glass sheet substrate (21) for a solar cell has a transparent electroconductive film (22) formed on its concave surface.    Also claimed is a solar cell comprising the substrate (21), an a-Si layer on the electroconductive film, and a back electrode (26) on the Si layer. A solar cell-installed glass window for an automobile comprises the solar cell and a glass plate laminated on the a-Si side with an interlayer between them.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar panels (claimed) for e.g. sunroof windows in cars are provided, which are of pleasing appearance, free from dazzle and have visible light transmittance.
An ultra-high-efficiency tandem solar cell comprises an AlxGa1-xAs upper cell (12), an AlyGa1-yAs intermediate cell (14), and a CuInSe2 lower cell (18), with a lattice matching transition zone (16) attached to the intermediate cell above the lower cell.    Also claimed is a method of making a solar cell comprising forming a CLEFT buffer on a removable substrate on which is deposited upper and intermediate cells, transition zone, lower cell and a back contact (22). The substrate is separated from the layers, and the CLEFT buffer removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An ultra-high-efficiency monolithic heteroepitaxial cell (claimed) having high specific power is provided. It is easy to mfr. and has good radiation resistance. It is esp. useful in spacecraft power systems.
Fused carbonate type fuel cell comprises seals to seal spaces between flanges of manifold and side faces of a stack of unit fuel cells, the seal composed of a carponate sheet and ceramic fibre felt.    For electronic appts. (J59096672-A)
(JP2615465-B2)      Photoelectric secondary battery comprises a semiconductor electrode, electrical insulation layer (4') and a first active electrode that forms a laminate with a solid electrolyte (6) layer and a second active electrode. The semiconductor and second active electrodes are electrically connected and at the junction of these electrodes, a photoelectric voltage is generated on irradiation with light to effect charging of the battery.
Amorphous material is based on K hydrosilicate, with oxometallate in a molar ratio up to 1:5, with dopant elements of Gp=III of the penodic table replacing up to 50 mol.% of the Si ions. Up to 50 mol.% of the K ions are replaced by divalent metal ions of approximately the same radius and up to 400 mol.% Si dioxide are also included. Oxometallate is of transition metals, pref. titanates, vanadates, chromates, zirconates, iobates, molybdates, hafnates, tantalates, or tungstates. Dopant is pref. Al, replacing up to 15 mol.% Si ions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Proton conductor for fuel cells, with isotropic conductivity of more that 1x10 power (-4)Sx/cm. .
The solar cell (1) contains and N(+)-junction (2) in a semiconductor substrate (3), pref. Si. The backside (12) of the substrate is completely covered by a contact layer (4), and an insulating layer (5), pref. SiO2, with openings (6) to the semiconductor surface contacting highly doped p(+)-regions (7). Am ohmic contact is made to these regions via contact material deposited in these openings, pref. Al.    Also claimed is a solar cell with n(+)-p junction which has an Insulating layer (5) over the entire back surface. On this insulating layer a dopant material, pref. Al., is deposited in discrete areas (4a) which form through the Insulating layer the p(+)-doped regions in the back surface as well as the ohmic contacts (6a). A reflective metal contact layer (4) is also provided on the insulating layer.    The contact layer (4) is pref. a sequence of Al-Ti-Pd-Ag. The insulating layer (5) pref. has a thickness of lambda/4 to reflect infra-red radiation. The localised doped regions may be circular or formed as parallel narrow strips, a pref. process flow is also claimed.
High pressure phosphoric acid fuel cell stack assembly comprises stack of fuel cells to produce electricity, means to deliver pressurised air supply to cathode means and means to deliver hydrogen rich fuel gas to anode means for electrochemically reacting with oxygen in pressurised air. First exhaust means to remove mixt. of oxygen-depleted air and product water from cathode means, means to deliver water fog stream to anode means, means for exhausting mixt. of hydrogen-depleted gas and water vapour from anode means, reformer means to reform raw hydrocarbon fuel and means to deliver mixture of hydrogen-depleted exhaust gas and water vapour.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant with water entrained in anode gas to cool the power section. Fuel cell power plant assembly can be operated at higher internal pressures and lower heat rates for increased efficiency.
Appts. comprises a deformable diaphragm between upper and lower moulds and electric heating elements fixed to the diaphragm.    Used for making solar cell modules. (J61047259-A)
Absorption tower reproducing method of gas purifcn. device for fuel cell comprises absorbing and removing impurity by absorbing agent through absorption tower of the device before coal gas is supplied to fuel cell, and reproducing absorbing agent by supplying gas for reproduction to absorption tower. Part of cathode exhausted gas of fuel cell, is used as gas for reproduction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Installation of air compressing and preheating devices is unnecessary, necessary amt. of adjustment gas added can be reduced by 1/3-1/2 so utility cost of plant can be reduced, and total heat efficiency can be improved. By controlling flowing direction of gas for reproduction opposite to that of coal gas, temp. in layer at reproduction can be easily controlled, and sintering of absorbing agent can be prevented.
The film comprising SnO2 as a main component, and 1-15 wt.% Sb, being formed by vapour deposition is made by melting and evaporating a bulk substance consisting of an evapn. source substance contg. SnO2 as a main component, and 1-15 wt.% Sb to which 0.001-0.5 wt.% at least one of Fe, Ni, and Cu were added, in vacuum vessel to form the film on a substrate.    A pellet is evapn. source substance for the -. prepn. of the film, and comprises 1-15 wt.% Sb, 0.01-0.5 wt.% at least one of Fe, Ni, and Cu, and balance SnO2 and incidental impurities.    USE -   For photoelectric conversion cells as light ray incident sides, having at least 80% transmittance for visible ray, (1-5) x 10 power (-4) ohm.cm resistivity, and 0.05-2 microns asperities.
The Fe-base alloy comprises (by wt.) up to 0.10% C, up to 0.2% Si, up to 2% Mn, 15-30% Cr, 0.05-2% Al, 8-35% Ni, and balance Fe and incidental impurities.    USE -   For current collectors, and separators of fused carbonate type fuel cells, having excellent corrosion resistance against fused carbonate at cathode side of fused carbonate type fuel cells.
The Co-base alloy comprises (by wt.) up to 0.30% C, up to 0.20% Si, 15-30% Cr, 0.05-2% Al, up to 25% Ni, up to 15% Fe, and balance Co and impurities.    USE -   For current collecting plates of fused carbonate type fuel cells, and separators of the cells, has good corrosion resistance in both environment of anode and cathode sides of the cells.
The Ni-base alloy comprises (by wt.) up to 0.10% C, up to 0.20% Si, up to 0.50% Mn, 15-40% Cr, 0.05-2% Al, up to 25% Fe, Ni and incidental impurities.    USE -   Used for current collecting plates of fused carbonate fuel cells, and cells separators. It has good corrosion resistance when used in anode or cathode sides of fused carbonate fuel cells.
Appts. comprises: a) reforming reaction pipe-contg. reforming furnace (I); b) air chamber (II) adjacent to (I) and into which combustion air is fed; c) fuel chamber adjacent to (II) to which fuel gas is fed; d) fuel pipes with opposite ends opened at fuel chamber and (I) for ejecting fuel gas to (I); e) air ejecting holes adjacent to fuel pipes in a wall partitioning (II) and (I); f) and igniting means for fuel and air fed through fuel pipes and air ejecting holes.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel is well mixed with air through diffusion.
CuInSe2 film is made by pulverising powder of Cu, In and Se, or mixed powder of each metal's cpd. in inorganic solvent; adding binder to obtain fine powder in paste form; coating paste form on substrate and sintering.    USE -   For solar cells, and photosensors, capable of making high quality film with high productivity.
Photovoltaic device comprises a substrate of metal foil with an insulating film of inorganic material (I) of conductivity not above 10 power -7 reciprocal ohm.cm; an electrode layer; and a non-single-crystal semiconductor photo-voltaic layer.    (I) is Si1-xCx, Si1-yNy, Si1-x-yCxNy, or a hydride or fluoride of these, or a metal oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a flexible, heat-resistant, high open-circuit voltage integrated solar cell.
Cleaning of the magnet of a high intensity separator, used for sepg. weakly magnetic substances, is carried out by passing a washing fluid, pref. water, through the matrix. Cleaning is intensified by applying short, intensive shock and pressure waves cleaning. The shock waves have a peak pressure of min. 100 kPa and base width less than 10 microseconds. Several shock and pressure waves are applied consecutively in one direction at approx. azimuthal points inside the matrix, with definite time difference. The time difference of the pressure waves acting at adjacent points depends on the distance between them and shock and pressure wave is produced at the next point only after the pressure wave from the preceding point has passed it.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The matrix is useful for removing ferro- and paramagnetic impurities in kaolin or the water circulation of nuclear and thermal power stations. Cleaning is intensified without reducing the life of the matrix material aor increasing the amt. of material used.
A cascade solar cell construction comprises: a metallisation contact which has a predetermined width and allows an output of electric current generated by cell, and which partially blocks light and produces a shadowed area beneath it; a top solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath metallisation contact, having a width larger than that of metallisation contact and constructed of materials selected from AlGaAs, GaAs; bottom solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath top solar cell having a width larger than metallisation contact so that it can receive light that passes through top cell, and constructed of AlGaAs or GaAs; a patterned tunnel junction fixed between top and bottom solar cell to electrically and optically connect top and bottom solar cells in series, it is located directly beneath metallisation grid and has a width smaller than solar cells, and approx. equal to width of metallisation contact. Patterned tunnel junction composed of top n-type layer GaAs, and bottom p-type layer GaAs, the 2 layers having a band gap energy that approx. matches that of top and bottom solar cells so that the tunnel junction does not block light from reaching bottom solar cell when incident solar light is not normal to metallisation grid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell with patterned inter cell ohmic connection as tunnel junction to connect top and bottom solar cells in electrical and optical contact. By confining patterned area to shadowed areas tunnel junction is set free from requirement that it be transparent and have band gaps greater than or equal to those of top solar cell.
A nitrogen ion-contg. ion beam obtd. by accelerating nitrogen ion in an electric field generated by ionising gaseous a nitrogen cpd., e.g. NH3 etc. in vaccuo, is irradiated onto glass having an Si-O chemical bond.    ADVANTAGE -   A Si-N bond contg. layer is formed in a simple manner on the glass to reinforce the glass surface. The reinforced glass exhibits good radiant rays resistance and is suitable for use as a protective membrane in solar cells etc.
Appts. to form an amorphous semiconductor thin film comprises a gas blowing part to feed a raw material gas, the blow part being placed vertically moveably between a light-permeable window plate at the top of the reactor vessel and a substrate placed in the vessel.    USE -   For making amorphous Sitype solar cells.
Molten carbonate fuel cell comprises a) a pair of conductive electrodes; b) an electrolyte body sandwiched between electrodes a), and comprising an electrolyte of an alkali carbonate mixt. (I), more than 5-15 mol.% of magnesium carbonate, relative to the mixt. (I), and an electrolyte-retaining material; c) fuel-supplying means for supplying a fuel gas to one of electrodes a); and d) oxidant-supplying means for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of electrodes a). Pref. mixt. (I) is a mixt. of lithium carbonate and at least one of potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.    ADVANTAGE -   New cell has long life and outflow of electrolyte from the electrolyte body is reduced to prevent an increase in internal resistance and occurrence of gas crossover. j (First major country equivalent to J01243378-A)
Transparent conductive heat-resisting boron-contg. zinc oxide films are prepd. by heat-treating in a hydrogen atmosphere at 300-680 deg.C in the presence of a boron cpd. the transparent zinc oxide films formed by coating and heat-decomposing an organic soln. of a zinc cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The transparent conductive zinc oxide films obtd. can be used in solar batteries and display devices. They are produced easily and economically.
(JP2656291-B2)      Unit cell which outputs electrical energy has a separator to a flow groove on which fuel and oxidising agent circulate. There is a matrix impregnated with electrolyte and a pair of ribbed electrodes in which the flow groove of fluid fuel and oxidising agent is formed. A scrubber filled with metallic wool is provided to remove phosphoric acid in waste gas from fuel cell.    USE -   Used as phosphoric acid-type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no pressure loss due to clogging. Corrosion of piping in flow after main body of cell is inhibited because phosphoric acid is removed.
(JP2656290-B2)      The matrix impregnating the electrolyte is pinched. The rib like electrode comprises grooves through which fuel and fluid oxidising agent flows. The cell comprising a laminate structure outputs electrical energy via a separator during circulation of the fuel and oxidising agent. Metallic wool, preferably iron, is positioned in the anode scrubber and stainless steel wool is placed in the cathode scrubber.    USE -   Used as a phosphoric battery with scrubbers.    ADVANTAGE -   Phosphoric acid in the waste gas from the battery is removed by using oxidation resistance metallic wool on the cathode side and different metallic wool on the anode side. Corrosion of the battery is inhibited and maintenance can be easily carried out.
Both or some of the emitters on the front surface of the semi-conductor wafer cover only a small fraction insteam of the whole of that surface. The carriers of current generated in the main around the front face do not have to pass through the whole thickness of the cell base for it to be collected on the rear face. The emitters can also be situated on both sides of the cell.
Thin film solar cell comprises: a substrate; a first content layer; a semiconductor layer including a photovoltaic junction; a front contact; and a barrier layer with multiple contact regions between the first contact layer and the semiconductor layer. The substrate contains a high proportion of Si and has a thermal expansion matched to the semiconductor; and the semiconductor layer is a polycrystal thin film.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell combines low cost with high efficiency; the barrier layer reflects light, minimises back surface recombination and prevents contamination of the semiconductor.
Ceramic green sheet is made by wet mixing ceramic powder, 0.3-3 wt% organic fibrous material, and 0.5-10 wt% emulsion type organic binder into aq. slurry; adding flocculant to the slurry; followed by slip casting to a sheet-form matter.    USE -   For partitions of fuel cells, or receptacles having good flexibility.
Transparent electrical conductive film is made by forming a transparent electrical conductive film contg. Sn-oxide as a main component, on a matrix, using the mixt. of two kinds of Sn-cpd. of SnCl4 and monobutyl-Sn-trichloride, as a raw material. The film is pref., formed by pyrolytic oxidn. reaction, and pref., contains Sn-oxide contg. F and Cl, as a main component.    USE -   For transparent electrodes of solar cells, having low electric resistance and high transmittance.
The electrical contacts are formed on layered substrates while simultaneously forming an anti-reflection coating, pref. an oxide-layer. A p-diffusion is carried out during a heat-treatment in the presence of H2 in the top-surface of the wafers at the same time as in the grooves, pref. by adding a controlled amt. of P to the ambient. The H2 presence regulates the P-diffusion through the anti -reflection coating. A backside contact is formed by depsn. before P-diffusion of a layer of material, pref. Al, which diffuses into the substrate during the heat-treatment for the P-diffusion Sintered Al-contacts are pref. formed by this. The heat-treatment pref. uses P in the gas-stream or a solid source. The gas ambient pref. used is N2. P is added after a certain amt. of backside diffusion has taken place. The substrates are pref. stacked with small back-to-back distances and larger front-to-front distances.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method reduces the heat-treatment needed to form 2 diffused contacts to a single step. The anti-reflection layer thickness can be made sufficiently thick by using H2 to enhance the P-diffusion through it, and reduces the P-doping density in the wafer surface only, allowing adequate absorption- and conversion-characteristics. The process is used in the mfr. of solar-cells.
A Ti material is immersed at first in a single or mixed aq. soln. of more than 5 wt.% cqncn. at above 50 deg.C and then in 0.2-10 wt.% hydrofluoric acid aq. soln. at below 35 deg.C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Degree of blackness is increased, while reflectivity to far IR is reduced. Suitable for a solar cell.
System comprises a controllable air inlet, an O2-depleted outlet, a sensor in the outlet for monitoring O2 content, a recycle loop for recycling exhaust back to the inlet, an inlet monitor for the total inlet flow of O2, a plant power output monitor, and a control system linked to the monitors for calculating O2 utilisation of the cathodes and adjusting the amt. of air admitted to the inlet accordingly.    ADVANTAGE -   O2 starvation of the fuel cells is minimised (claimed).
(JP93063104-B)      Module comprises a desiccator composed of a crystal water-removed cpd. of synthetic crystal aluminosilicate formulated by M2/nO.Al2O3.xSiO2.yH2O, M=metal cation, n=valency; the cpd. serving as an O-emitter is sealed in a space of module.    USE -   For energy supply units. (J01223778-A)
The cell, pref. of gallium arsenide, consists of a semi-conductor substrate, on which grow the layers of the active device, basically consisting of an emitter layer and a base layer. The electrical contact to the emitter is achieved over the back face of the substrate, which is connected to the emitter by means of conduction channels based on the same material and type of conductivity as the connecting regions between the channels. The channels traverse the base region. Electrical contact to the base layer is achieved frontally, covering only a very small fraction of the frontal surface of the cell.
The plant is followed by a heat exchanger sepg. condensate from discharged gases and using recovered heat for pre-heating incoming fuel supplies. A gas waste separates residual fuel for reuse, and also catalyst gas for return to the electrodes.    Further washers and reactors remove harmful materials to produce acceptable final emissions. Transfers of steam condensate, fuel etc. within the plant are micro-processor controlled.    ADVANTAGE -   Has high efficiency and does not harm environment.
In the prepn. of H2 and CO2, required for operating high temp. fuel cells with oxygen ion-conductive electrolytes and with O2 supplied in the form of air, using a fired reformer, the novelty is that the reformer is heated without pressure and that the CO2 content of the reformer heating flue gas is (partially) removed in a CO2 scrubber and supplied to the fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE -   The process avoids the size limitation of pressure-fired reformers so that several parallel-connected small pressure-fired reformers can be replaced by a single pressure-less heated reformer of the same H2 capacity for operating e.g. a pressurised fuel cell battery. The CO2 scrubbing separates undesired components and allows control of CO2 supply just to cover the CO2 requirements of the fuel cells.
Semiconductor device has passive means comprising an H-contg. source and a material capable of cracking the source to generate atomic H, so that real-time recovery of the device from degradation by one or more of: hot carriers, photons and ionising radiation.    the means pref. also includes a material capable of storing atomic H, pref. Pt or Pd (alloys) esp. Pd. The device is pref. Si based.    Specifically H-contg. source is H2, NH3 or forming gas. A pref. device includes a passive layer of H2-loaded Pd. In a solar cell, the stabilising material is placed at location (60a) (on the surface of grid contacts (56)) and/or (60b) (on the surface of the metallised substrate (58)). H2 is loaded into the material, e.g. Pd, during the subsequent deposition of amorphous Si by decmpsn. of SiH4.    USE -   Esp. with Si based MOS and pn-type solar cell devices.
In the process a sample gas is supplied to the fuel battery and the change in the electromotive force caused by the electrochemical oxidn. reaction of the hydrogen in the sample gas, used for calculation of the hydrogen concn. of the sample gas.    The fuel battery uses hydrogen as the fuel and air or oxygen as the oxidising agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrogen of high concn. can be easily and continuously measured. The fuel battery does not need a big output, nor the power generation with high electric current density, and is durable for continuous use over a long period. The equipment and process are useful for continuous hydrogen concn. check in the hydrogen supply network pipe line, etc.
A transparent electroconductive glass board comprises a transparent glass board on the surface of which is formed by sand-blasting, a very fine uniform unevenness, and an uneven electro-conductive SnO2 membrane layer contg. large crystal granules, formed by vapour phase growth on the uneven surface of the glass board. The solar cell module is obtd. by forming an amorphous Si layer on the electroconductive SnO2 membrane layer of the glass board.    ADVANTAGE -   Unevenness having appropriate dimensions is formed uniformly and stably. Excellent light scattering effect is achieved.
(JP2710125-B2)      The vapour separator system comprises regulating device (19) to adjust surplus vapour to heat exchanger according to power output of battery, battery cooling-water circulating pump (2), fuel battery (B), modifier (6), heat exchanger (7), flow control valve (8a), function generator (20), etc.    USE -   The separator is used for fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Prolonged fuel battery life is possible and need of gasoline operation is avoided.
(JP2710124-B2)      Pure water supply control apparatus for steam separator (1) of battery (3) supplies water of predetermined temperature and pressure to fuel battery where heat exchange in the steam separator provides steam to the modifier (6) for fuel gas generation. The apparatus includes a pump (5) in the heat exchanger (7) which supplies pure water to the separator, the supply being adjusted by a flow control valve (18), a flow element (19) which detects the quantity of pure water, a function generator (21) which computes the pure water supply according to the output electric power of the fuel battery and a flow controller (20) which controls the opening of the flow control valve based on the output from the function generator and the flow element.    ADVANTAGE -   Pressure fluctuations in the separator are minimal and surplus steam is utilised.
Gamma Li AlO2 powder is contacted with H2O and obtd. hydrate heated e.g. at 300-1000 deg.C to remove H2O and form porous LiAlO2 powder prod. (I). H2O may be mixed with an organic solvent contg. -OH e.g. MeOH or EtOH.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is resistant to corrosive action of alkali carbonate and is useable as a carrier for internally modified catalysts in the fuel circuit of molten carbonate type fuel cells where (I) shows high modifying activity and long life.
Bi2O3, major component, Nb2O5, 5 - 10 mol.%, and a trivalent rare earth oxide, Y2O3, 5 - 20 mol.%, are mixed to form a solid.    ADVANTAGE -   The high oxygen ion conductor is used as solid electrolyte used in a fuel cell power generating system, steam electrolytic system, oxygen pump, or oxygen sensor. The high oxygen ion conductor has good conductivity at a wide temp. range, 500 - 800 deg.C. When the high conductor is used in the fuel cell power the conductor obtains the same current at 550 deg.C as that of conventional ZrO2 electrolyte operated at 1000 deg.C. The conductor has no possibility of corrosion.
Fuel reformer has reforming catalyst (9) held at the wall surfaces of a reactor (1) having catalyst supporter (10), e.g. SUS wool, to push the catalyst to the wall surfaces of the reactor.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat transfer in a reactor is increased.
Organic photoconductive layer obtd. by mixing and dispersing organic charge generating pigment dispersed in binder polymer as crystalline fine particles, and organic charge transporting dye uniformly dissolved in layer, is placed between two electrodes. Organic dye is hole transporting material.    Pref. organic pigment has light absorbing peak to wavelength of more than 450 microns, and organic dye has light absorbing peak to wavelength of less than 400 microns. Mixt. mol. ratio of dye to pigment is 0.1-50.0. Organic pigment acts as electron receiving substance to organic dye under irradiation of light. One of two electrodes has work function smaller than organic pigment, and the other pigment has work function larger than organic dye.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High photoelectric converting efficiency can be obtd. as strong optical intensity of 100 mW/cm2. Lowering of converting efficiency is avoided even when organic solar battery is repeatedly used.
(JP2519077-B2)      The redox battery includes a cylindrical spool valve set in the electrolyte supply or return line of each cell.
(JP2640485-B2)      In a fuel cell, raw material gas is reformed for use as the fuel gas. Moisture is isolated at the fuel battery outlet using a hollow fibre membrane. Raw material gas is used as a purge gas to remove the moisture separated by the moisture separation apparatus.    USE -   Separation of steam from fuel all exhaust gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The steam which is removed can be made to drive a steam turbine, thus improving electricity generation efficiency. The steam is separated easily.
Organic solar battery is coated with protective layer so that light of short wavelength of less than 450 nm is cut. Protective layer has at least more than 60% transmittivity to visible light. Following condition (I) is satisfied when light absorbing end of protective layer is lambda(1) (nm), and light absorbing end of charge transporting substance of organic photoconductive layer is lambda(0) (nm).    Protective layer is coloured coating layer obtd. by dispersing dye or colouring pigment into resin. Colouring substance is, i.e., azo dye, nitro dye, triphenyl methane dye, quinoline dye, etc., and binding resin used in protective layer is polyarylate, polysulphone, polyamide, acryl, methacryl, vinyl acetate, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Deterioration of organic solar battery caused by light of short wavelength with lapse of time, can be prevented, and the solar battery can be stably used for long time. Most of visible light of 400-750 nm can be photoelectrically converted, so that high photoelectric converting efficiency can be obtd.
Solar cells based on crystalline silicon are made by diffusion at high temp. of phosphorus into one face and aluminium into the other, forming n+ and p+ regions respectively of greater depth and lower concn. than by conventional methods. The process consists of (a) conditioning one side of the substrate with phosphorus; (b) passivating oxidn. of the surfaces; (c) depositing a layer of aluminium on the back of the substrate; and (d) causing simultaneous diffusion at high temp. of the phosphorus and aluminium.
In the prodn. of microcrystalline n- or p-Si layers, esp. in thin film solar cell structures of the type glass/transparent conductive electrode/pin-Si:H semiconductor body/metal electrode, in which the semiconductor body layer sequence is produced in a glow-discharge plasma with capacitively coupled h.f. energy using a process gas comprising a gaseous cpd. contg. Si and H mixed with dopant, the novelty is that Ar is added to the process gas during layer prodn.    ADVANTAGE -   The Ar addn. allows use of extremely low h.f. power (e.g. 1 W/sq.cm), giving reproducible homogeneous microcrystalline Si:H layers without layer quality redn. or solar cell efficiency redn.
Fuel cell stack comprises cells each with a catalytic anode (6) and cathode (8) sandwiching an ion-permeable membrane (4), and a wet-proofed C paper (14) bonded to the outer cathode surface. A bipolar separator (18) contacts the paper and forms an oxidant flow field, the separator being in contact with the anode of the next cell. Conductive screens (30) are provided between and in contact with the C paper (14) and the bipolar separator (18).    ADVANTAGE -   The screens result in improved prod. water removal and improved cell performance.
A fuel cell plant includes a power section which has a cooling water circulating system. Water is stored in a tank and is decontaminated in a separate vessel. A first conduit carries water from the storage tank to the decontamination vessel, a second interconnects the decontamination vessel and the power section, a third conduit carries clean water from the vessel to the tank, and a fourth conduit carries contaminated water from the power section to the storage tank. Water is discharged to the ambient from the third conduit when the amt. of water in the storage tank exceeds a predetermined vol.    ADVANTAGE -   Only clean water is discharged to ambient.
A solar cell assembly (10) comprises: (1) A solar cell (12) having a layer of a p-type semiconductor (14) overlying a layer of an n-type semiconductor (16), and also having the electrical layer contacts (32, 30), one to each of the semiconductor layers and both having an external surface (22) expressed on a top side (26) of the solar cell; and (2) A glass cover (34) overlies the solar cell with a bottom surface (40) in proximity with the topside of the solar cell. This glass cover has a pair of electrical cell contacts (38, 36) extending from the bottom to the top surface of the glass cover, the portion of each cell contact at the bottom surface of the glass cover (40) being joined to one of the layer contacts (32, 30) at its external contact surface (33).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the mfr. of lightweight devices for delivering power to earth satellites, etc. Very thin assemblies can be prepd. using even brittle materials while the assembly themselves can be readily joined together in arrays.
Dry fuel cell stack assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes positioned between first and second plates, a matrix plate between the electrodes, a porous paper in the matrix plate, and passages for supplying electrolyte. The paper has sufficient porosity to allow the cell to be assembled before the electrolyte is added.    Pref. the paper includes a sheet of 'TORAY TGP 30' (RTM).    ADVANTAGE -   Cell may be assembled dry.
Electrochemical system comprises: a converter assembly of columnar converter elements (21) each including a set of electrolyte plates (1) with a fuel electrode material coated on one side and oxidiser electrode material coated on the other, and a set of interconnector plates (2) alternating with the electrolyte plates to form a gas-tight stack; and an inter-columnar heat transport assembly having elements (31) between but spaced from, the converter elements to provide efficient temp. regulation by radiant heat transfer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In generation of electricity in conjunction with e.g. a steam boiler; or in a space power system using a high temp. electrolytic cell and low temp. fuel cell loop. Arrangement permits highly effective independent thermal control.
A corrosion-resistant cathode container for an Na-S cell (10) comprises a closed metallic container (11) for the S-cell cathode, which has a thin continuous glass layer on its inner surface, and has within it a closed metal foil second container (27) for collecting current from the cathode. Also claimed is a hermetically sealed Na-S cell including a solid ceramic electrolyte (21) sepg. a chamber (13) contg. an Na anode (15) from one (17) contg. an S cathode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A corrosion-resistant cathode container for Na-S cells is provided (claimed). The electrolyte deterioration brought about in conventional cells by polysulphide corrosion of the Cr cathode coating is prevented and normal cell performance is prolonged.
Prepn. of mercury telluride comprises mixing tellurium and mercury and heat-treating the mixt. in an inert gas atmos. at 370-450 deg.C. For 100 pts. wt. of Te, 160-170 pts. wt. of Hg is pref. used for mixing. The mixt. is pref. heat-treated for 30-60 mins.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High quality mercury telluride can be obtd. It is useful for solar batteries.
The optical thin membrane comprises a Gp. II-VI cpd. semiconductor thin membrane and oxide semiconductor thin membranes alternatively laminated on glass or a single crystal substrate until the whole membrane thickness become at least 100 nm (the thickness of each membrane is 5 - 20 nm respectively).    The Gp II-VI cpd. semiconductor thin membranes formed on the glass or single crystal substrate such as ZnS, CdSe or ZnSe and the oxide semiconductor thin membranes are of In2O3 or SnO2 (cpds.).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A non-linear type optical thin membrane having large non-linear susceptibility and large light transmission region is obtd., esp. useful for SHG device etc..
(JP2621901-B2)      Manufacturing a phosphoric acid fuel battery comprises arranging a catalyst layer on both sides of an electrolyte retaining matrix by forming a separator using carbon powder or carbon fibres, forming a reaction gas passageway into the formed porous carbon plate, and baking the porous carbon plate and nonporous carbon plate laminated together with resin to form the separator.    USE -   Used for manufacturing phosphoric acid fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel battery obtained is more efficient, has a longer lifetime and is stronger. The manufacture is easier and time saving.
Electrical energy and gas for chemical syntheses are obtd. by: supplying a C-contg. fuel to a molten metal in a carburation stage; removing impurities in a desulphurisation stage; heating the molten metal; and contacting it with a solid electrolyte to convert the fuel to the electrical energy and gas. The metal is pref. molten Fe contq. C in soln. and the solid electrolyte is pref. a refractory oxide e.g. ZrO2, ThO2, HfO2, CaO, MgO, Y2O3, Yb2O3 etc. or mixts. of these, esp. ZrO2.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical energy and raw material gas can be obtd. on an industrial scale.
A curved face solar cell module is obtd. by a method in which an intermediate layer composed of a transparent resin, e.g., EVA resin, polyvinyl butyral resin, etc., is locally or stepwise laminated in a multilayer between a transparent curved plate, e.g., glass, plastic of carbonate acrylate, etc., having a thickness of 2-6 mm and a curvature radius of 5000 mm or less and a solar cell element, e.g., amorphous silicon solar cell, etc., having a thickness of 0.3-2 mm. The intermediate layer is integrally formed such that the number of multilayers is increased, the wider the interval between the transparent curved plate and the solar cell element becomes according to variation of the interval. Also, on the back side of the solar cell module, a back layer of PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), etc., may be provided.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This method can effectively produce a curved face solar cell module which can be easily bonded to even complicated shapes of objects and can exhibit good performance. Also, the curved face solar cell module does not need to be divided in application and the use of the solar cell module can more widen the space of vehicular body when used for auto car, etc.
Appts. comprises a layered structure of: a transmissive conductor (32); a photoactive semiconductor (33); and electrode (34); an insulator (35) over the face and side surfaces of the electrode; and a further electrode (36) in contact with the conductor and the semiconductor.    A pref. device comprises a panel including the transmissive conductor (32) as a layer and a spaced set of segmented semiconductor and electrode structures, with the top electrode layer (36) an overall layer in contact with the transmissive conductor and the semiconductor segments.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a photovoltaic device, esp. a solar panel (claimed) for high current, low voltage applications, e.g. water electrolysis to produce H2 for fuel cells. Design maximises the active area for a given panel size and avoids the need for registration of successive scribes of the layer used in forming a panel.
Solar cell is formed by: forming a substrate (18), etch stop layer (20), pn structure (14,16) and a contact (22,24) to each pn semiconductor layer (14,16), each contact having connection to a corresponding electrode (30,32) on the surface of the cell; placing a glass cover (34) over the cell, the cover having external surface terminals (36,38) which contact the electrodes (30,32) so that connection is made to the pn structure; and etching away at least part of the base (18) to reduce the device overall thickness.    USE -   As a lightweight, robust solar cell with reliable external electrical contacts, suitable for e.g. space applications.
A CO converter(6) to convert steam-reformed gas to reformed gas contg. low concn. of CO comprises a case(8) having an opening, a cylinder(11) inserted to the case keeping a space between the opened bottom of the cylinder and the bottom of the case. a lid(9) to close the case and cylinder, an inlet placed at the case and an outlet placed at the cylinder. Catalyst layers are formed in the cylinder and a space between inner walls of case and cylinder to form a circular outer catalyst layer and gas is continuously passed through both catalyst layers.    USE -   Equilibrium of conversion reaction can be kept even when steam-reformed gas with a low temp. enters the converter and reformed gas contg. high concn. of H2 is obtd. and used for fuel cells.
Prepn. comprises passing JIS NO. 1 kerosene contg. 10-150 wt.ppm sulphur through a reactor filled with a Ni-type sorbent loaded with more than 40 wt.% Ni and having a surface area of at least 50 m2/g in the presence of no more than 0.2 mol hydrogen per mol of kerosene or in the absence of hydrogen at least under atmos. pressure and less than 10 kg/cm2.G at temp. of more than 250 deg.C and no more than 300 deg.C to reduce the sulphur content of the kerosene to no more than 0.5 wt.ppm, adding enough water for all the fluid coming out of the reactor and adding the fluid to a steam reforming reactor filled with a reforming catalyst contg. at least 5 wt.ppm Ni to carry out the steam reforming.    A stainless steel sorption column with an inside dia. of 20 mm was filled with 40 cm3 of Ni-type sorbent crushed to a size of 1 mm. JIS NO.1 kerosene contg. 62 wt.ppm sulphur was passed through the column under the conditions of a pressure of 9 kg/cm2.G, a temp. of 275 deg.C and LHSV of 0.2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrogen can be produced from kerosene which is economical and can be supplied stably.
Prepn. comprises passing a kerosene fraction contg. less than 10 wt. ppm sulphur in the presence of no more than 0.2 mol of hydrogen per mol of the fraction or in the absence of hydrogen under at least atmos. pressure and less than 10 kg/cm2.G at temp. of 150-300 deg.C through a reactor filled with a Ni-type sorbent loaded with more than 40wt.% Ni and having a surface area of at least 50 m2/g to reduce the sulphur content of the kerosene to no more than 0.5 wt. ppm, adding enough water for all the fluid coming out of the reactor and adding the fluid in a steam reforming reactor filled with a reforming catalyst contg. at least 5wt.% Ni.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrogen for dispersion fuel can be produced from kerosene which is economical and can be supplied stably.
(JP2569679-B2)      A fusion carbonate type fuel battery comprises a solid electrolyte plate (1), anode and cathode (2,3), figure and oxidn. side metal members (5,7), thick and thin sheets (9,10) and sintering plate (11). The anode is situated in the redn. side metal member and the cathode in the oxidn. side. The electrolyte plate is larger than the cathode and anode and is of such thickness to locate neutral atmos. in centre. A metal sintered body having same magnitude as electrolyte plate is situated between it and a thin electrolyte sheet on the anode side.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a battery. A sintered metal powder plate between electrolyte sheets prevents cross-contamination of fuel with oxidn. atmos. side in event of cracking.
(JP2643211-B2)      A fused carbonate fuel cell comprises a ceramic substrate electrolyte layer covered with a different type of ceramics material. Preferably the substrate is composed of two or more different types of ceramic powder.    ADVANTAGE -   Good time-potential characteristic.
(JP2508781-B2)      An electric power fuel battery comprise: fuel battery (1), cathode (2), anode (3), modifier (5), combustion chamber (5bs), desulphurisation device (7), cooling part (19), heat exchanger (20), line (22), ejector (24), town gas (TG) and air (A). Gas is supplied via s modifier to the fuel battery anode and gas discharged by anode is introduced into the combustion chamber of the modifier. Gas exiting the combustion chamber is mixed with air to be supplied to the cathode. A cooling part contg. catalyser is adjoined to the cathode. Gas passes through a heat exchanger after being desulphurised, is cooled and introduced into cooling part to cool the cathode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel battery contg. carbonic acid salt electrolyte sandwiched between porous tiles with an oxygen pole (cathode supplied with oxidising gas) and fuel pole (anode supplied with fuel gas), is for generating electricity. Battery efficiently generates electricity from town gas and natural gas.
(JP93051151-B)      Fuel cell comprises electrodes, each composed of a porous plate made of a metal cpd. contg., at least, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn or Co, to which a metal nitrate in an ammonium salt soln. is added. The metal cpd. is then sintered. (J01186562-A)
Film comprises mixed oxide contg. at least one of Zr, Ti, Hf, Sn, Ta and In with B and/or Si. Prepn. is by sputtering from oxide and/or non-oxide or target with compsn. (atomic%) (1) 4-90 Zr, 3-90 B and 0-67 O to form film of ZrBxOy where x is 0.05-3 and y is 2-6.5, (2) 1-90 Zr, 3-95 Si and 0-67 O to form film ZrSizOy where z is 0.05-19 and y is 2.1-40 or (3) 1-90 B+Si and 0-67 O provided if B is greater than 9 Zr, B is less than 0.25Si+9Zr, where film is ZrBxSizOy where x+z is greater than 0.05, z is less than 19 and y is 2-40 provided when x is over 3, 0.25z+3 is greater than x; film is outermost layer in contact with air for article having high durability.    In double- or multi-glazed window pane with multiple coatings, outer layer is transparent oxide and penultimate layer is silver formed on one or more substrates, and coatings face inner space. Film is formed as outer layer on (1) laminated article having transparent substrates with plastic interlayer and conductive film including metal layer and (2) heat radiation film protected by oxidn. barrier.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Coating increases scratch and abrasion resistance and chemical durability without adverse effect on optical properties. Useful in solar cells, glazing for buildings and transport, mirrors, interference filters, reflection prevention coatings for lenses etc.
A spacecraft comprises a structure which is susceptible to damage by comentary exposure to high energy radiation, where (1) the structure is stowed during launch and deployed ins pace and (2 in space and (2) a high energy radiation shield is secured to the structure to intercept momentary high energy radiation propagating toward the structure, the shield material being heated by the intercepted radiation and the heat being re-radiated into space prior to being conducted through the shield to the structure, preventing damage occuring to that structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The radiation shielding is used to protect spacecraft structures and equipment against momentary high level radiation. Fibrous silica refractory material is employed for the high energy radiation shields.
The catalyst tube assembly comprises a cylindrical metal tube with a bore which contains the catalyst bed. A coaxial sleeve is fitted around the tube. A number of ribs are located between the tube and sleeve forming helical hot gas flow paths. The ribs have arcuate surfaces which form line contact with the exterior of the tube.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides improved heat transfer to the catalyst tubes increasing the efficiency of the reformer by 5% to 10% of fixed flow rates, or the fuel flow rate can be increased by up to 50% at a fixed reformer efficiency. The assembly is inexpensive to produce easily assembled and produces a tight, yet flexible heat transfer zone.
Electrode plate assembly for a fuel cell powe rplant is formed by: providing a porous C substrate (2) depositing a catalyst layer (4) on one side with its edges offset from the side edges of the substrate; and injecting a liq. gas sealant into the substrate through the opposite surface so that it forms an interface with the underside of the catalyst layer and also extends around the edges to form a gas sealing band (8) around the edges of the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In an aq. electrolyte fuel cell. Plate has a high quality catalyst layer and edge seal which is in intimate contact with the inner and side surfaces of the catalyst layer.
(JP2748379-B2)      The battery has several planar electrodes and separators which are laminated alternately. Resin is coated on the entire periphery except on a terminal, by employing injection moulding process. The electrodes and the separators are held together by an injection moulding die (16).    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces weight of battery. Improves energy density of battery.
(JP2554114-B2)      An anode is located on one side of an electrolyte board. The separator is situated between the anode and cathode. The partition board which is situated between a pair of frames isolates the anode and cathode. Corrugated boards have gas flow paths. Gas supply and gas discharge manifolds are situated on the partition board and the frames. A thin plate is arranged on the upper part of the corrugated boards so that the height of these boards become the same as the height of the frames.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Separator of fuel battery with internal manifold. Separator is cheap.
(JP2528922-B2)      The fuel cell comprises (i) an electrolytic reserved layer (7) that holds (ii) a carbonated layer (8) which is composed of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal and an anode (2) and a cathode (3). The alkali or alkaline earth metal has a fusing point higher than that of the carbonated layer (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used esp. as an electrolyte board (1). The fuel cell provides a uniform supply into a matrix (6) without need for complicated supply appts. and has long-life.
Water circulating appts. to remove fuel contaminants from fuel gas in fuel cell comprises a separator to separate the contaminants by feeding cooling water into a contact cooler to cool the gas with the water and contaminant collector.    USE -   For fuel cells. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8927)
Metals are alloyed on an inorganic support by applying a soln. of an organic acid amine salt of a second metal onto the support already coated wtih a first metal; reducing the salt to metal; and alloying the metals by heating.    The support is pref. C or an inorganic oxide.    First metal is pref. Pt and second is Ni, Cr, Co or Fe, or a combination of these. The salt is a formamide and/or acetamide salt. The reduction step. is performed in flowing H2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mfr. of catalysts for fuel cell. The metals are alloyed with a high degree of dispersion.
An electroconductive integrated substrate and its method of prepn. are claimed. The substrate comprises a gas-permeable carbonaceous plate with a large no. of pores laminated and bonded to a gas-nonpermeable electroconductive plate (10), bonding being by a thermoplastic resin which is present only in the pores of the gas-permeable plate.    Prepn. is by interposing a synthetic resin film between the plates and subjecting to heat and pressure to melt the resin and thereby bond the plates in a laminate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The substrate is used as a functional element for a fuel cell (claimed), e.g. in electrode substrate units, gas passage units or cooling units for various types of fuel cells such as phosphoric acid or membrane-type cells. In a typical embodiment of a phosphoric acid fuel cell one carbonaceous plate (12) serves as a gas permeable electrode substrate for an oxidative gas (e.g. air) and the other carbonaceous plate (13) as a permeable electrode substrate for a fuel gas (e.g. H2), whereas the electroconductive plate (10) separates the two gases. The substrates have low elec. resistance at the bonded surfaces and the bonded surfaces are free from warp and sepn. Unlike prior-art integrated substrates (e.g. J61019069, J62211868 or J63048763), no heat treatment step is required after bonding.
Solar cell silicon is produced from pure silicon contg. boron and oxygen by adding phosphorus contg. material for (partial) compensation of the boron content and then (re-) crystallising the compensated silicon to form solar cell grade silicon.    ADVANTAGE -   The process allows solar cell grade silicon to be produced from boron-contg. starting materials (e.g. Brazilian quartz contg. about 1017 B atoms/cu.cm.), the resulting solar cells having an efficiency of at least 10%.
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic device comprises the steps of: I) forming a front contact layer of transparent conductive material on a transparent substrate, 2) placing the substrate in a deposition chamber, 3) depositing a first doped amorphous Si-contg. layer of a first conductivity type on to the contact layer, from a first gaseous mixture contg. silane and a first dopant gas; then flushing the chamber to remove the rresidual first dopants, 4) depositing an undoped intrinsic layer of amorphous Si-contg. e material on the first doped layer, from a second gaseous mixture contg. a Si cpd.. 5) depositing a second doped amorphous Si-contg. layer of a second conductivity type on the intrinsic layer, from a third gaseous mixt. contg. silane and a second doping gas, and 6) forming a back contact layer of conductive material on the -second doped layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The device is used in solar cells and photodetectors. It has an improved response to short-wave light, esp. in the wavelength range 400-560 nm.
Glass encapsulation of voltaic solar cell arrays having means for minimizing voltage-plasma interaction effects in a space environment comprise (a) several solar cells; (b) a substrate having integral cell supports formed on an inner surface of the substrate for supporting the solar cells above the surface; (c) a substrate having integral support ridges for holding the solar cells in non-bonded contact with the integral cell supports of the substrate when the substrate is bonded to the substrate to form an enclosed cell area that encloses the solar cells; (d) means for providing electrical connection of the solar cells from the enclosed cell area to an external element; and (e) a conductive grid network formed on the outer surfaces of the substrate and the substrate for providing a zero-potential ground plane.    ADVANTAGE -   High voltage levels should be generated directly at the solar array to minimise power conditioning losses, requiring protection of the solar array from the plasma.
A CdS paste, e.g. comprising CdS. InS, Cd chloride, BaO and organic binder, is coated on a glass board and sintered to form a first membrane. Another CdS paste, e.g. comprising 100 g of CdS, 7.5 g of ZnS, 20 g of CdCl2 and organic binder, is coated partly on the first coatings and sintered to form a secondary membrane.    ADVANTAGE -   The sintered CdS membrane used in solar cells due to its lower glass-CdS interface light reflection rate, lower resistance and less grain interface at CdS surface.
(JP93073357-B)      The element comprises a 1st electrode ohmic-contacted with selected exposed part of a 1st semiconductor layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, and metal oxide layer formed on exposed face of a 2nd semiconductor layer formed on the other side of the substrate.    Used for power sources. (JO1179373-A)
Fused carbonate type fuel cell consists of: (1) the cell unit having the carbonate electrolyte plate and a pair of anode and cathode facing each other through the electrolyte plate placed between the electrodes, and (2) separators placed to separate the units which are laminated to put the polarity of the electrodes in order. Each separator has respective gas feeding channel of the reaction gas which corresponds to the electrodes facing each other through the separator. In such fuel cell, inside of the gas feeding channels are coated with the insulating and corrosion resistant material.    The insulating and corrosion resistant coating comprises the sintered coating of the applied powder of one of alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon carbide, lithium aluminate or silicon nitride.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used for the cell in which natural gas is used for the fuel. The cell can be prevented from occurrence of the local cells and corrosion of the gas feeding channels.
(JP2506879-B2)      The fuel cell comprises fuel and oxidising agent gas poles set up on both sides of electrolyte and separated by a separator rib. A gas flow path is formed between the electrodes and separators. The electrode comprises layer having a large average pore dia. at the separator side and a smaller average pore dia. at the electrolyte plate side. The layers are sepd. by a layer having concavo-convex features.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell has higher uniform gas diffusion resistance in the electrode which increases performance.
In the prepn. of thin strip-like silicon crystals with plane surfaces by the supported-web technique, the novelty is that, immediately after passing through the growth zone (W) and while still in contact with the melt surface (2), the drawn silicon strip (3) passes, in the strip drawing direction (4), through a remelting zone (A) with a cover (5) arranged over the melt, the temp. (T1) of the cover being controlled to be greater than or equal to the mean temp. (T2) of the support mesh-side strip surface of the silicon-coated support (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used for mfg. strip-like silicon crystals for semiconductor devices, esp. solar cells (claimed). It allows prodn. of extremely thin silicon strips, i.e. 100-300 or usually below 100 microns thick, at high drawing speeds (about 1m/min.) using carbon fibre mesh of more than 1.5 mm mesh width.
Dil. magnetic semiconductor films, e.g. Cd1-xMnxTe, are grown on a substrate by atmos. or reduced pressure MOCVD. A reactor contg. a heated substrate, e.g. (100) GaAs, is supplied with metallo-organic sources of: a gp. II metal e.g. Cd, Zn or Hg; a gp. VI metal e.g. Te, S or Se; and a transition metal magnetic ion e.g. Mn or Fe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in the mfr. of an n.i.p. structure thin-film (tandem) solar cell in which the i-layer is the above film deposited by MOCVD. Method is quick, efficient and reproducible; it is superior to MBE deposition.
The following are disclosed: (a) novel fluorinated poly (phenylene ether ketones) of formula (I), (II) or (III) with X= aryl, SO2, O, CO, C(CH3)2 or S; (b) the novel 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2,2'-bis ((4-(4-halobenzyl) phenyl)) propane monomers (halo=F or Cl) which can be used to prepare (I)-(III) by reaction with a bisphenol; and (c) prepn. of monomers (b) by reactinq a halobenzene with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro -2,2-bis(p-chloroformyl phenyl) -propane (IV).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I)-(III) can be used as coatings and films in electronics, in transmitting solar energy and as second surface mirror coatings in thermal control coatings systems. Their films and coatings have the following advantages over commercially-available PEEKs: (i) optical transparency/colourlessness; (ii) a lower dielectric constant (ca. 2.4); (iii) solubility in common orq. solvents so that they can be produced by soln. casting or spraying; and (iv) good long-term thermal stability.
HCl soln. is flowed upwardly through a metal particle bed e.g. of Fe without fluidising the particles and H2 prod. collected. Pref. the particles are held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray in a receiving vessel and opt. the HCl soln. exiting from the bed top is fed to a second particle bed e.g. of Zn. A coolant can be circulated in the base of the vessel to control feed HCl temp. and reaction rate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   H2 is generated on demand without formation of toxic waste prods. Prod. is suitable for use in a H2/Cl2 fuel cell (claimed). Distributor plates do not cloq or block. H2 storage problems are avoided. Mfg. facility can be deep underground. Byprods. from fuel cell are useable in H2 mfr.
(US4968354-A)      Thin film solar cell array with increased durability to high temps. and high humidity comprises: (1) a transparent insulating substrate with several unit solar cells connected in series arranged on it; each cell includes a transparent electrode, an amorphous Si layer with a junction structure and a printed rear electrode fromed of a baked first resin, contg. Ni particles or carbon particles as an electrical condutor,a nd mulled with an Si coupling agent.    The solar cell array is produced: (i) placing a tin oxide film on a glass substrate by electron beam evapn. or sputtering; (ii) patterning the tin oxide film to form sepd. transparent electrodes; (iii) forming an amorphous Si layer with a p-i-n junction structure on the electrodes; (iv) patterning the Si layer by photolithography such that one end of each pattern covers part of the corresp. space between adjacent transparent electrodes; and (v) applying and hardening further patterns of metal electrodes formed by printing using phenol resin contg. Ni particles as a filler, mulled with an Si coupling agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In addition to resistance to high temps. and humidities mentioned in the main claim, the cost is less for mfr.. (First major country equivalent to J01173763-A)
65-330Wt% alpha-olefin oligomer, as a forming assistant, is added to ultra fine ceramic powder. The mixt. is kneaded, compression moulded and fired.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For making a homogenous porous ceramics body used for filters, electrodes and electrolyte holders for fuel cells, and catalyst carriers, and free from deformation and cracks. Method is simple and provides good productivity.
(JP93078911-B)      Method comprises maintaining the flow rate of a Zn-Br electrolyte liq. in an up-going passage of an electrolyte liq. circulating system so that its vertically up-going component flows at 70-150 cm/sec.    USE -   For portable power sources. (JO1169881-A)
A higher molecular solid electrolyte is obtd. by hardening a compsn. contg. an acryloyl-modified polyethylene oxide, of formula CH2=C(R)-C(O)-O- (CH2-CHRO)n-R, (where R is a lower alkyl), an inorganic salt, e.g., LIClO4, LiI, LiSCN, NaI, NaBr, CuCl6, etc., and a high-mol. wt. polyethylene oxide of a molecular wt. of 10,000 or more, together with a polyalkylene glycol or its deriv. e.g., polyethylene oxide, etc.    The pref. amts. of the inorganic salt and high molecular polyethylene oxide are 0.05-50 mole% and 3-200 wt.% on the basis of the acryloyl-modified polyalkylene oxide. The acryloyl-modified polyalkylene oxide is pref. triethyleneglycol monoacrylate, tetraethyleneglycol monoacrylate, triethyleneglycol monomethacrylate, e etc. Also the pref. amt. of the polyalkylene glycol is 500 wt.% or less on the basis of acryloyl-modified polyalkylene oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The high mol solid electrolyte used in prim or sec. cells, fuel cell, electrochromic display element, etc. has good ion conductivity, mouldability, and mechanical property.
Fuel cell electrode assembly substrate comprises a mat of graphitised C fibres all covered with a glassy C coating which is highly resistant to corrosion. The coating also coats fibre junctions in the mat to bind the fibres to form a strong mat.    Pref. the substrate is formed by: making a C fibre mat by a wet papermaking process; impregnating the mat with a wet phenolic binder material; and graphitising.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in H3PO4 fuel cells. Substrate has high strength and corrosion resistance.
(JP2604393-B2)      Fused carbonate fuel battery, comprises an electrolyte matrix with a fuel electrode and an oxidising electrode on opposite sides. A gas impermeable barrier plate is situated between each path so separating fuel intake and exit paths. A fuel reforming catalyst is present in the fuel intake passage.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced amount of adhesion of electrolyte to reforming catalyst so catalyst activity is maintained over a long period of time and battery life is increased.
C-Plate is mfd. by forming a plate from kneaded matter contg. at least thermosetting prepolymer and carbonaceous filler, multi-step laminating the plates, multi-step curing treating the laminate plates and carbonisation fireing the cured plates in a non-oxidising atmos..    USE -   Impermeable C-plate is used for separators of fuel cells and Cl2-Zn sec. batteries, esp. for fuel cells, esp. phosphoric acid type fuel fells, having good impermeability of gas and liq..
An amorphous Si thin film solar cell (12) and Schottky barrier diode (14) on a common substrate (16) comprise a conductive layer (18) on a flexible substrate (16), with Si layer(s) (30,32,36,38) forming the diode and solar bodies over their respective portions of the conductor, adjacent to one another bus spaced apart by insulating material (28). A second conductive layer (34) covers both regions, the diode layer forming a contact with one of the conductive layers and a Schottky barrier with the other.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A SChottky diode integrated with a solar cell on a common flexible substrate (claimed) is provided. The roll-to-roll processing techniques are most cost effective and the diodes may be readily shaped. High forward current densities are possible and the TiN prevents contamination of the body by Al during mfr. Unlike single crystal devices the diode/solar cell combination is compact and resilient.
(JP93042141-B)      Prodn. comprises forming a p-i boundary layer composed of an amorphous Si-C layer between p- and i- type amorphous Si layers at a high frequency power density of 0.1W/sq.cm or less for a glow discharge.    USE -   For power sources. (J01161777-A)
A fuel improving device, converting raw material gas to hydrogen-rich gas by heating an improved pipe filled with a catalyst, has a characteristic structure in which a cylinder surrounding the pipe is airtightly fitted to it and the device comprises cylinder and pipe as a heat pipe.    USE -   For an improving pipe to convert methanol, for instance, to hydrogen-rich gas.
A repeating component within an electrochemical cell stack comprises a flat electrolyte matrix abutting a flat porous electrolyte reservoir plate to draw and store product water, a flat porous electrolysis cell electrolyte reservoir plate abutting the first plate and a second electrolyte matrix to draw water when operating in electrolysis cell mode.    There is a respective metal separator plate adjacent to each matrix and contacting a current conductor plate, with an insulating sheet adjacent to the conductor plate other side, and a cooling plate adjacent to at least one of the insulating sheets. There is pref. a porous PTFE sheet interposed between the reservoir plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for space applications, allows operation as either fuel or electrolysis cell stack, operating passively without fluid pumps in either mode.
Solar cell comprises: a semiconductor body with a front layer (20) of first type and an adjacent back layer (18) of second type, with holes (26) in the back layer through to the front layer, the holes having walls (30) which are doped first type; contacts (32) in the holes making contact to the front layer; and further contacts (38) on the back layer making contact to the second type back layer. The cell may be a p+n type or an n+p type.    ADVANTAGE -   All contacts are on the back surface so that the front surface can remain smooth; the distance travelled by current carriers to the contacts is low and the cell is highly resistant to degradation of its efficiency by radiation.
A method of stabilising semiconductor devices with intraconnections comprises providing an electrode exposed through an overlying semiconductor layer, dipping the device into a colloidal soln. or well-stirred suspension of a metal hydroxide in water, and providing a further contact.    Also claimed is a device with intraconnected electrodes as above in which a first electrode is on a substrate and an amorphous semiconductor on the first electrode, metal hydroxide is adsorbed on part of the first electrode as above, and a second electrode extends into contact with the first at the electrode/hydroxide interface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of stabilising intraconnections and interfaces in sensitive electronic devices such as solar cells and ICs is provided. The cells are more resistance to thermal cycling and inter diffusion at semiconductor/metal contacts is reduced.
A ferrous fuel material for a fuel cell consists at least partially of iron foil. Pref. the foil is coated with a hygroscopic substance, is perforated and is wound to a coil such that at least some of its holes intercommunicate along spiral paths.    A method of employing the fuel material in an iron redox element of a fuel cell involves (a) withdrawing part of the anodic soln. of the cell; (b) contacting and dissolving the fuel material in this soln. portion; (c) regenerating the soln. portion by reducing at least part of its ferric iron content; and (d) returning the regenerated soln. portion into the fuel cell.    A fuel cell, for use in the method, comprises a cathodic compartment, a cathodic soln. regeneration circuit, an anodic compartment and an anodic soln. regeneration circuit, the novelty being that the anodic soln. regeneration circuit includes a reactor contg. the fuel material .    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used for feeding an electric vehicle drive motor (claimed) The foil has a large surface/ volume ratio, so that a relatively small regeneration reactor can be used, and can be of poor quality, or scrap without affecting regeneration efficiency. Fe(OH)2 ppte. produced can be recycled for foil mfr.. (First major country equivalent to LU--87444-A)
Reformer comprises a reactor tube composed of inner and outer tubes charged with reforming catalyst, so that raw material gas fed into the outer tube from one end turns at the other end to enter into one end of the inner tube.    USE -   For fuel cell power generator systems.
Endothermic reactor appts comprises a reaction tube unit composed of an inner and outer tubes and partition tube coaxially disposed between these tubes and reaction catalyst charged in an annular space defined by the partition tube and outer tube.    USE -   For making H-rich gases for fuel cells.
In a photoelectric transfer device having a light transmittable front electrode, an optically active layer and a back electrode, the optically active layer contains at least one diaminocarbazole deriv. of formula (I), where each R1-5 = identical or different H, alkyl opt. substd. or aryl opt. substd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cheaper photoelectric transfer devices (solar batteries) with high transfer efficiencies and flexibility, contg. an organic photoconductive material with an absorption in the visible region and (I) in the optically active layer. Capable of easily forming large areas. Used for optical and image sensors. (I) increases the optical current produced when irradiated.
In a photoelectric transfer device having a light transmittable front electrode, an optically active layer and a back electrode, the optically active layer contains at least one triphenylamine cpd. of formula (I); where each R1-3=halogen, nitro, cyano or alkyl, alkoxyl, aryl, phenoxy or amino opt. substd. and each 1, m and n=an integer of 0-3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cheaper photoelectric transfer devices (solar batteries) with high transfer efficiencies and flexibility, contg. an organic photoconductive material with an absorption in the visible region and (I) in the optically active layer. Used for optical and image sensors. (I) greatly increases the optical current produced in the optically active layer when irradiated.
The photoelectric transfer device has a light transmittable front electrode, an optically active layer and a back electrode. The optically active layer contains at least one phenylenediamine cpd. of formula (I); where each R1-4=H or aryl opt. substd. and each (R1-2) and (R3-4) can form a ring.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cheaper photoelectric transfer devices (solar batteries) with high transfer efficiencies and flexibility, contg. an organic photoconductive material with an absorption in the visible region and a cpd. of formula (I) in the optically active layer, capable of easily forming large areas, conforming to sun and room light spectra, used in optical and image sensors. (I) greatly increases the amt. of optical currents produced in the optically active layer when irradiated.
Electro-catalyst comprises a support carrying active catalyst metal particles spaced at a distance of at least 15nm.    In a pref. embodiment, the inter-particle spacing is defined by a mathematical formula incorporating: particle density; average particle dia.; specific surface area of the C support; and the percentage wt. of the supported metal on the support.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in O2 reduction liq., solid polymer or solid electrolyte fuel cells. (claimed). The mass activity of the metal catalyst is enhanced.
A dual rechargeable battery is in the form of a modified fuel cell which can be charged not only by an electrolytic process but also by a fluid hydrogen source.    Pref. the battery consists of a stock of three types of foils, one being a coated proton-conductive foil and the other two being por-ous electrically conductive spacers through which the requisite air and the hydrogen source respectively are passed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery is esp. useful as a mobile energy source. It is simple to mfr. and has a moderate wt./power ratio.
Solar cell has a 1st semiconductor layer composed of a single crystal grown from a seed single crystal, of controlled plane orientation, disposed on a less crystal nucleus-forming density area of a wafer and 2nd semiconductor layer formed on the 1st semiconductor layer having opposite conduction type.    USE -   For electronic appts..
(US4910101-A)      Stacked type fuel cell comprises (a) a stacked-cell body formed of a plurality of gas sepg. plates and plurality of single cells alternately stacked on each other, each of the single cells having an electrolyte matrix, anode and cathode electrode layers, disposed on opposing surfaces respectively, of the electrolyte matrix, an anode reserve plate (I) having at least one channel, serving as a fuel gas flow path, and a cathode reserve plate (II) having at least one channel serving as an oxidant gas flow path, (I) and (II) being respectively disposed on the reverse surfaces of the anode layer and the cathode layer, the fuel gas flow path and the oxidant gas flow paths comprising reaction gas flow paths; (b) reaction gas supply and reaction gas discharge manifolds disposed on side surfaces of (a); (c) at least one receiver extending from the side surface of (a), inside the discharge manifold, receiver (c) being adapted to receive surplus electrolyte falling along the side surface; and (d) a barrier disposed over (c) and adapted to catch an amt. of electrolyte discharged from at least one of the reserve plates, while partially opening the outlet of the corresponding one of the reaction gas flow paths.    ADVANTAGE -   The new cell can recover any electrolyte discharged from single cells, and return the recovered electrolyte to the single cells, without causing any substantial pressure loss. (First major country equivalent to J01146268-A) (9pp)
(JP93071195-B)      The cell comprises a pin type surface composed of a p-, i- and n-type layers formed on a transparent electrode. At least, the layer at the transparent electrode side has a 3-layer structure having an intermediate amorphous Si to H layer.    USE -   Used for power sources. (J01145875-A)
A thin-film pattern structure of the type in which the ion-blocking and conductive films have been partly removed (esp. by patternwise laser scribing) from a glass substrate (1) is characterised by having at least the portions at which substrate (1) is exposed covered with a second ion-blocking film (8) which is pref. of polyimide or silicon oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use is esp. in the mfr. of electrode patterns for LCDs (claimed). By covering the exposed portions, contamination of the liq. crystal material by Na ions from the soda lime glass substrate can be prevented. In such cases the second ion-blocking film (8) can also act as an orientation control film. Other (non-claimed) applications are in image sensors and solar cells where contamination of the amorphous semiconductors (and hence) reduction in photoelec. conversion) can be prevented.
Electro conductive lacquer (I), for contacting solar cells of amorphous silicon at temps. below 200 deg. C. in screen printing processes, comprises (a) 50-75 wt. % of silver powder contg. 0-50 wt. % of aluminium powder; (b) 5-15 wt. % of a thermoplastic polyester resin having a mol. wt. of 10,000-40,000; and (c) 10-45 wt. % of an organic solvent in the form of hydrocarbons, glycol ethers or glycol ether acetates.    Pref. (b) comprises aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acids polycondensed with polyhydric alcohols.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) has good screen printing properties and storage stability, and a low contact resistance.
The anode compartment (20) is separated from the cathode compartment (18) by the membrane (22) which has ion-permeable regions to allow ion transfer between cathode and anode and gas-permeable regions to allow gases to transfer between cathode and anode compartments. The cathode (24) is disposed in contact with the membrane for generating electric current and the anode (26) is disposed in contact with the other side of the membrane for generating electric current.    The permeability of the gas-permeable and ion-permeable regions depends on the diameter of the pores in the membrane in these regions and on the degree of hydrophobicity of the pore walls. Further, the surface tensions of the cell liquids in the anode and cathode compartments must be sufficiently high that the liquids do not wet the hydrophobic material. Organic systems containing water or other solvent to give surface tension in excess of thirty-five dynes per cm. are suitable.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Battery or other chemical-electrical energy converter. Performance, reliability, and efficiency are increased by reduction of complexity and internal electrical resistance of system.
Reactor for methane reformation and carbon formation in which the method of reclaiming oxygen from carbon dioxide exhaust comprises (a) reacting the carbon dioxide with hydrogen to form a mixture of water and methane; and (b) electrolysing the water formm hydrogen gas and oxygen; and then (c) introducing the methane into a methane converter having a heated reactor vessel where the methane is converted to carbon and hydrogen; in which the improvement comprises (d) contacting the methane in the reactor vessel with a high temperature stable glass fibre material having a layer of a metallic catalyst thereon, at a temperature sufficient to cause the methane to catalytically decompose forming hydrogen gas and carbon.    The reaction vessel is heated to a temperature of 750 - 850 deg.C. The high temp. glass fibres have an average dia. of 2-10 microns, and are of fused quartz wool. The catalyst applied to the glass fibres is chosen from cobalt, nickel, iron and palladium in which the catalyst metal is present as a weight fraction of the glass fibres of 33-67%.    ADVANTAGE -   Method for converting methane gas producing hydrogen which is used in a fuel cell and carbon in which the operating temperatures are low, the carbon formed has a high density and the conversion efficiency remains high.
Cell has a semiconductor layer with alternating wells of p- and n-conductivity. An insulating layer on the bottom surface is patterned to expose the surfaces of the wells. A conductive layer on the insulating layer includes a positive region contacting the p-conductivity wells and a negative regions contacting the n-conductivity wells. A positive bus and a negative bus are side-by-side beneath the conductive layer. The positive bus is beneath the negative region and the negative bus is beneath the positive regions.    The tips of interleaved fingers of the positive region contact the positive bus and those of the negative region contact the negative bus. There are means for connecting the p-conductivity wells not connected to the positive conductive region to the positive bus beneath the p-conductivity wells. Similarly n-conductivity wells are connected to the negative bus beneath them.    ADVANTAGE -   A greater proportion of the surface is used and the mounting structure is simpler and less expensive.
(JP2595585-B2)      Fuel battery electrical power generating device comprises a desulphuriser in the fuel supply line, a modifier of the entrance to the anode for reforming desulphurised gas, a line for introducing gas discharged from anode back to modifier, on air compressor, or preheater for preheating air supplied to cathode and branched line supplying air to combustion chamber of modifier. H2 output from a secondary battery supplied in the circuit is connected to the fuel supply for supply to the anode.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved reliability of system. An emergency light is lit at the time of fuel battery stoppage.
Appts. comprises a vertical reactor having a combustion exhaust port at the side wall, lower pipe plate set in the reactor and upper pipe plate disposed in the reactor to form a raw liq. basin in a lower space of the reactor.    USE -   For making H2 sources for fuel cells.
(US4983470-A)      A molten carbonate fuel cell includes a protective material used to protect fuel cell components from a carbonate electrolyte or a substance formed therefrom. The protective material comprises a ceramic formed from an oxide which is chemically reactive with the electrolyte or substance formed from it, and includes at least one substance with a m.pt. lower than the cell's operating temp.    A method of protecting components of a molten carbonate fuel cell, based on the above protective material, is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The protective material prevents degradation of the reforming catalyst in a molten carbonate fuel cell power power generation system, protects the components of the fuel cell body from the electrolyte, and thus prevents degradation of performance and ensures a long service life. (First major country equivalent to J01140561-A) @(5pp Dwg.No.3/5)@
Mfr. of pin- or nip-solar cells of amorphous hydrogen-contg. silicon (a-Si:H) on transparent substrates with enhanced blue sensitivity involves depositing the layers (3, 4, 5) from the gas phase by h.f. glow discharge, dopant migration from the first layer (3) into the i-layer (4), caused by i-layer deposition, being compensated by dopant of opposite conductivity type.    ADVANTAGE -   Blue sensitivity redn. and thus cell efficiency redn. are avoided in a simple manner.
Fuel cell device comprises: a fuel cell (4) with oxidant and fuel gas electrodes (1,2) sandwiching an electrolyte layer (39; a half-cell (16) with an electrolyte layer (3a), single electrode (18) and gas chamber (19); a connecting electrolyte (17) between the electrolyte layers of the fuel cell and half cell; and a circuit (21) formed by the half-cell electrode and either electrode of the fuel cell which transfer electrolyte between fuel cell and half cell to control the amt. on compsn. of electrolyte in the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. with a molten carbonate fuel cell. Electrolyte replenishment to the fuel cell can be achieved quickly, uniformly and stbly over a long period of time (First major country equivalent to J01134868-A)
Epoxy resin compsn. contains an acid anhydride-type hardener having a cyclohexane ring of formula (I). In (I) R1-R8=H or methyl, R7 and R8 are opt. linked through mthylene. The amt. of delta.1 type isomer of the acid anhydride having cyclohexane ring of formula (II), which is by-produced while prepg. the anhydride, in the anhydride is less than 2 wt.%. The acid anhydride is pref. 4-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (4-Me-HHPA).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compsn. is useful for prepg. an optical disk substrate, lens, prism, sealer for light emitting diode, coating for solar cell, adhesive for optical fibre, etc. The content of delta 1 type isomer of the acid anhydride is controlled to a specific level. Mouldings obtd. from the compsn. has good optical transmission ranging from UV to near UV.
(JP2643198-B2)      A thermoelectric cell is produced by forming an Fe-Li layer on the surface of Fe powder, such that a reaction takes place, and laying an Al sheet on top of the reaction surface, then heat-processing above the melting point of Li in an inert gas atmosphere. The reaction surface is solidified by cooling to produce an Li-Al alloy layer which acts as the cathode. The thermoelectric cell base a molten salt electrolyte and an FeS anode. Radio of Li to Al is 70:30-95:5.    ADVANTAGE -   Prolonged operation with superior properties.
Creepage of molten carbonate electrolyte at the negative end of a fuel cell stack is blocked by placing a thin layer of material which is poorly wetted by the electrolyte adjacent the outer surface of the anode plate at the negative end of the stack. The thin layer is larger than the plate so that it extends beyond the plate on all sides and prevents electrolyte creepage.    The thin layer is pref. a foil of Au or Au-Pd.    A pair of similar ceramic members is placed adjacent the anode plate pref. aligned with the plate, and the thin layer is placed between the ceramic members; the thin layer also extends
Zirconia thin film is made by applying the mixt. of Y-stabilised zirconia powder and Y-stabilised zirconia sol, as a slurry, on a porous substrate; drying the applied slurry; followed by firing.    USE -   For making Y-stabilised zirconia adhered onto a substrate, used for gas sensors and fuel cells.
A reformer produces reformed gas by heating a reforming catalyst to reform the reforming material to a hydrogen enriched gas and feeding the reformed gas to the anode of the fuel battery. A flame burning burner burns fuel and a catalyst heating burner burns anode exhaust gas discharges from the battery.    The catalyst burning burner is heated by the flame burning burner and reaches a temp. higher than the complete oxidn. temp. of the reforming material so that the reforming gas contg. non-reformed components burns well at the time of changing over from the fuel to reformed gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The flame burning burner is used for prodn. of reforming gas and the catalyst burning burner is used for heating to proceed the reforming reaction.
(JP2670607-B2)      The fuel cell, has a phosphorus battery having a fuel and air electrodes and interposed phosphorus acid electrolyte.    USE -   The fuel cell is used in generating plant with methanol fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Circulation system of heat-carrier oil is unnecessary and steam for the fuel-battery start-up heating can be given from a steam producer.
(JP2595579-B2)      Gases discharged from anode and cathode of fuel cell or supplied to modifier combustion chamber, the gases from cathode being modified and the gases from the anode being supplied as fuel. Heat is recovered as gases are discharged from combustion chamber of modifier and supplied to a steam separator to separate gas and water containing CO2. The CO2 is then supplied to the cathode as reformed natural gas is supplied to anode and the process is repeated continuously.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is used for electrical power generating device of fusion carbonate type battery. The differential pressure and voltage between the anode and cathode is zero.
In a device for forming reformed steam contg. hydrogen including a heating furnace partitioned by a plate into material supply chamber and heating chamber, reaction tubes consisting of inner tube and outer tube and layers of catalyst filled in gaps formed between the tubes, the layers of the catalyst extend through the plate from the heating chamber to the material supply chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This device is suitable to form H2 gas used in fuel ell. Since reaction of material gas occurs by contact with layer of catalyst extending to material chamber where temp. of the catalyst is lower than that in the heating chamber, reaction to cause deposition of carbon can be avoided, and since H2 formed in the chamber is introduced to the heating chamber, the deposition is also avoided in the heating chamber to avoid blocking of the catalyst layer.
(JP93013543-B)      Producing solar cell element comprises selectively irradiating a laser beam on one main surface of a semiconductor wafer to make a p-type layer and Al semiconductor alloy layer deeply entering into the semiconductor wafer like protrusions.    Used for back surface field type solar cells. (J01125988-A)
Tin oxide films can be reactive ion etched in hydrogen, (and in hydrogen in a carrier gas) and that other materials of interest and use in semiconductor and electro-optical type devices were not significantly attacked by the hydrogen etching plasma.    Tin oxide is used in electro-optic devices as a transparent electrode, e.q. in liq. crystal display, solar cells, aircraft windshield heaters, flash lamp trigqers. It is also used as a thin film resistor, infrared reflector in architectural qlass, and as a wear resistant coating on glass and other materials. It is also used for forming heterojunctions with silicon or gallium arsenide.    The reactive ion etching of the tin oxide is attributed to the formation of volatile hydrides of tin. In our RIE condition both physical sputtering and chemical hydride formation are working together; the difference of sputtering rate alone cannot explain the observed high etch rate of the tin oxide.
Appts. to reform fuel for fuel cells comprises a double-structured reforming reaction tube charged with a reforming catalyst. The tube has a high temp. part, an inlet for a raw material gas, a low temp. part, and an outlet for reformed gas.    USE -   For fuel cells.
The apparatus includes an electrolyte refilling unit for refilling electrolyte to a fuel cell positioned at the edge of a multilayer body. The multilayer body is constituted by an oxidation gas lateral electrode and a fuel gas lateral electrode provided on either side of an electrolyte layer via a separator. A gasket made of ion conductivity material is interposed at the side of the multilayer body. Each fuel cell is equipped with agas manifoldwhich supplies oxidation gas and fuel gas. The electrolyte refilled to the electrolyte layer of the fuel cell, is conveyed by electro- chemical driving force to the negative material via the ion conductive coupling bridge for coupling the electrolyte layers of an adjacent fuel cell. The electrolyte layer of each fuel cell in the multilayer body is refilled in a specific order.    ADVANTAGE -   Simplifies filling of electrolyte. Maintains favourable characteristics for long periods.
SiC semiconductor film is formed by RF discharge in an Si, C and H2-contg. gas mixt. having a pp. ratio of C/(C + Si) = 0.5 or less and H2/(C + Si) = 60 or more, where C and Si are the pp's of the C- and SI-contg. gases respectively. A plasma is generated at a substrate temp. of 180 deg.C or more under a gas pressure of 0.5 torr or less, and at an RF power density. of 80-300 mW/sq.cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mfr. of e.g. amorphous solar cells. SiC film has a wide optical energy gap and a high conductivity and is formed uniformly over a wide area. (First major country equivalent to J01119015-A)
(JP2621240-B2)      An electrolyte cell consists of an electrolyte plate (1) laminated between a cathode (2) and an anode (3). The electrolyte cells are separated by a separator (4). Fuel gas (FG) and oxidation gas (OG) are supplied to the electricity generation portion (I) of the fuel cell. The gases flow on opposite sides of the separators (4) in opposite directions. A preheating portion (II) performs heat exchange between the fuel and oxidation gases. The preheating portion contains heat transmission stimulators which are situated at both end of the separators.    USE -   Use as a fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical generation portion provides improved gas flow rate through the cell. Gas preheater is not necessary.
A high-temp. solid electrolyte electrochemical cell configuration comprises a plurality of elongated electrochemical cells, which have inner and outer electrodes, with solid electrolyte in between. The cells are electronically connected by porous, electronically conductive, fibrous strips. The improvement which the invention provides is that the fibrous strips are 80-95% porous, and comprise flexible,electronically conductive fibres which are either Ni or Co fibres bonded together and coated with a refractory oxide. The fibrous strips electronically connect the inner electrode of one cell to the outer electrode of the next cell, thorugh interconnection material disposed on the inner electrodes. The strips also electronically connect the outer electrode of one cell to the outer electrode of the next cell. The refractory oxide is effective in preventing additional bonding of fibres during cell operation at high temps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell configuration and fibrous connectors described are used in high-temp. fuel cells. The connecting strips are heat and time-stable, and do not increase shear- and transverse-loading on the fuel cell components during operation at about 1000 deg.C.
Prodn. system comprises a rotary base disc with molten silicon reservoir, disc driving turret, molten silicon supply unit, silicon press jig with driving device, silicon thin plate pick-out device, and preheating heater of press jig.    Molten silicon is supplied to recessed portion on base disc and moulded in silicon thin plate by press. Supply of molten silicon, press nad picking out of moulded thin silicon plate are carried out while the base disc is turning so that continuous running is feasible.    USE -   Multi-crystal silicon thin plate is used for solar battery and other photoelectric conversion element. Unlike cast method, cutting is not required so that considerable cost reduction is realised.
Plating onto surface of a porous material is effected with a plating bath contg. viscosity-increasing agent.    The plating bath is e.g. Ni electroplating bath, Sn electroplating bath, Ni electroless plating bath or Cu electroless plating bath. The Viscosity-increasing agent is e.g. polyacrylic acid series viscosity-increasing agent, and the viscosity of the plating bath is adjusted to 10 - 1000 cps by the addition of the viscosity-increasig agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Penetration of a plating bath into the porous material which often causes deterioration of the porous material can be prevented, and this plating process is suitable for a prodn. of ceramics electronic device parts such as ceramics capacitors, honeycomb catalyst carrier or separator of fuel cell etc.
A novel solar cell comprises (a) a solar cell wafer (1) forming a photoelectric element; (b) at least one adhesive convex part (6) selectively provided on the wafer; (c) an adhesive layer (3) applied to the wafer to embed the convex part (6); and (d) a transparent plate (2) provided on the adhesive layer (3), the plate (2) and the water (1) being bonded together by the adhesive layer (3).    Processes for prodn. of the solar cell are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solar cell may be used in artificial satellites. It has a thick uniform adhesive layer bonding the transparent plate (e.g. a glass cover plate) to the wafer so that the cell has increased reliability in service and peeling of teh adhesive layer form the wafer is prevented.
(JP2658082-B2)      Molten carbonate fuel cell for power source obtained by sandwiching electrolyte using cathode and anode, and supplying oxygen gas to cathode and fuel gas to anode.    ADVANTAGE -   The surface area of electrode can be greatly increased.
A fuel cell power plant comprises a fuel cell stack power section, (2) cooled by a water circulation heat exchange loop (10) also contg. a steam separator (14). A turbo-generator (22) driven by the steam produces electric power and the water from the steam separator is recirculated to the stack. A reformer (46) converts raw hydrocarbon to H-rich fuel gas for the cell anodes (14), and a boiler (42) produces steam at or above 400 deg.F, which is transported to the reformer at above 200 psi.. Hydrocarbon is mixed with the steam and transported by duct to the reformer, the fuel gas transported from thence at above 200 psi to the anode and oxidant gas at the same pressure supplied the the fuel cell cathodes (6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fuel cell power plant which operates at higher pressures and thus with higher efficiency and power density than usual, is provided. The acid electrolyte cells operate at optimum temps.. The reformer steam boiler is partly fired by raw fuel and the reformer and coolant steam systems are quite independent.
A process for production of sintered films of Cd1-xZnxS (0~x~1) in which a paste composed of powdered CdS and CdCl2 or a mixture of powdered CdS,ZnS and CdCl2, is applied onto a substrate which is subsequently sintered using ZnCl2 vapour pref. heated 400 to 700 deg. C, as a sintering atmos. Pref. the film is resintered in an inert gas atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Sintered films of Cd1-xZnxS having high optical transmittance particularly useful for window layers in solar cells.
Appts. comprises reforming pipes disposed in a reforming vessel, each reforming pipe composed of an inner and outer tubes, catalyst bed formed between the tubes and return path extending from one end of the pipe to that of the adjacent pipe, and perforated plates, partitioning the annular space formed between the reforming pipe and sleeve tube covering the pipe.    USE -   For reforming fuel gases for fuel cells.
Gas reformer appts. comprises reforming pipes in a reforming vessel. Each reforming pipe comprises inner and outer tubes, with catalyst bed formed between the tubes and return path extending from one end of the pipe to that of the adjacent pipe.    USE -   Used for reforming fuel gases for fuel cells.
(JP2570771-B2)      Cooling a fuel cell comprises passing an oxidising gas to the cathode side of a tile. A groove, acting as a gas flow path is provided at each side of a laminated separator, and through which, the fuel gas is transferred to the anode side. The density of grooves either side of the centre of the separator is lower than at the centre, to allow for reduced gas flow at the periphery. As the oxidising and fuel gases flow over the separator, the amt. of gas flow is regulated, to keep the tile cool.    ADVANTAGE -   The temp. distribution across the separator is more uniform, and the gas flow rates are optimised, thus leading to very large increases in efficiency.
Semiconductor film of the CuInSe2 type is formed by: depositing a CuIn film; depositing a Se film; and heating in presence of H2 to cause interdiffusion. The H2 is pref. provided as a mixt. with Ar, N2 or He. The atmos. also pref. includes H2Se or H2S.    CuIn film has an at. ratio of 1:1 and the Se film provides an at. ratio of Se: (Cu+In) of less than 1; and the heating is performed in the presence of H2S so that a film of CuInSe2-xSx (where x = less than 2) is formed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prod. is useful in solar cells. Method provides high quality films without need for (larqe-scale) use of H2Se.
Photosensitive electrode comprises a layer of solid soln. of cadmium selenide and telluride, obtd. by applying the solid soln. to a conducting substrate of titanium, and heating it to recrystallise it in the flame of air contg. 15-30% methane for 5-10 min. at the recrystallisation temp. of the soln.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is simple and gives an electrode with high photosensitivity, having efficiency 1.3-1.5 times greater than before, of 2-7%. The prepn. time for the solid soln. is reduced 1 hr., and the consumption of energy is reduced 35-40 times. Bul.44/30.11.88
Semiconductor photoelements comprise an electrolyte, a counter-electrode, and a photoelectrode made up of a layer of photosensitive polycrystalline cadmium selenide telluride CdSexTe1-x, where x is 0.4-0.7, which is applied on an electrode layer of the low-ohmic semiconductor oxide titanium dioxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Compared to photoelements having an electrode layer of SnO2 or In2O3 and a photosensitive layer of cadmium sulphide, the improved photoelements have leakage 3-8 times less, a transfer resistance between the electrode layer and the polycrystalline layer of 2-4 times less, and a photocurrent 2-3 times higher, resulting in an increase of 2.7-3.7 times in the efficiency of photoformation. Bul.44/30.11.88
A photoelectrochemical element consists of an n-type semiconductor electrode of monocrystalline cadmium sulphide or cadmium sulphide selenide, in contact with an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide contg. formaldehyde as reducing agent and a triphenylmethane dye to increase photosensitivity, at a ratio of components of 0.5-1.5:1.0-2.5:5 x 10 power -5 to 5 x 10 power -4 mole, and a counter electrode of platinum. The transparency region for cadmium sulphide selenide is 580-950 nm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Owing to the addn. of the dye to the electrolyte, the element has a photosensitivity 2-3 orders higher than before, and in the spectral region 300-950 nm, the quantum yield rises 1.01-2.5%. The element is used in chemical current generators. Bul.44/30.11.88
ELEMENT includes azo pigment of formula (I). (A is coupler residue, and n is 0-4), in optically active layer.    Optically active layer including azo pigment, is held between two electrodes, ie., front electrode and back electrode. Front electrode has light transmittivity because light is applied from front electrode side. Optically active layer generates hole and electron by irradiation of light.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Optically active layer can be obtd. only by coating liquid including azo pigment, so that photoelectric converting element of large area can be mfd. at low cost. Photoelectric converting element having high converting efficiency throughout visible ray area, can be mfd. Photoelectric converting element suitably used for solar spectrum, can be obtd.
Kneaded composite contg. carbon powder and thermosetting resin is rolled to a plate form to make the thin sheet (e.g. 1 mm) by curing and baking. Separable thin sheets, e.g. hard quality polyethylene or polypropylene, are placed on the upper and lower pressing surfaces for rolling and a spacer for controlling the thickness is placed on the rolling stand and presses by the roll from the above. Rolling is conducted from 40-90% by 10% draft each rolling. After rolling to near the predetermined thickness, metallic spacers of equal thickness to the predetermined thickness are placed at both ends of the sheet right angle to the roll and rolled to four directions to finish. Curing is carried out with the thin sheets at 50-100 deg.C for over 10 hrs. and remove the sheets, and to finish curing at 180-300 deg.C, and then baked at 2,000-3,000 deg.C under non-oxidn. atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Flat surface accuracy is within plus/minus 0.02m and smooth surface prods. can be obtd. with yield ratio over 80% instead of 20-30% by conventional process.
Semiconductor device comprises two types of semiconductors which have different band gaps, laminated with an interposed buffer layer to reduce lattice-mismatch. Current between the two semiconductors flows by forming a short-circuit electrode.    ADVANTAGE -   Electric properties of the semiconductor device are improved.
(JP2622261-B2)      A solid electrolyte fuel cell has fuel and air electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte tank. A powder slurry is coated on the surface of a tubular object, then baked.    USE -   Used in an oxygen sensor.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery diameter can be reduced. Diffusion of air to the air electrode is simplified.
Pin-junction photovoltaic element includes a p- and/or n-layer contg. Zn, Se and H where the H content is 1-4 at%; the layer(s) contain 65-85 vol% crystal grain domains and a p or n dopant; and the i-layer is a non-single crystal Si layer contg. H and/or F atoms.    p-dopant is a IA or VA element esp. Li; n-dopant is a IIIB or IVB element esp. Al or Ga. The i-layer also includes C and/or Ge ats. The element may be formed by standard (plasma) CVD or sputtering processes. (not claimed).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. as a solar cell power source for electrical devices. Device is low cost and provides high conversion efficiency.
A photovoltaic cell, which includes a layer of photovoltaic semiconductor material (pref. Si) sandwiched between two sheet electrodes, is made by a method which comprises making electrical connections to the first sheet electrode through the semiconductor material. The connections are electrically insulated from the second sheet electrode. The improvement comprises having an array of openings in the second sheet electrode and the layer of semiconductor material, to expose the first sheet electrode, to permit the electrical connections to the first sheet electrode through it. 4 Pref. embodiment comprises: (1) a substrate (I2), (2) a transparent sheet electrode (I4), most pref. formed of tin oxide, disposed on the substrate. (3) at least one layer of photovoltaic semiconductor material (I6) disposed on and in continuous electrical contact with the first sheet electrode, (4) a second electrically-conducting sheet electrode (pref. tin oxide), disposed on and in continuous electrical contact with the semiconductor material, (5) an electrically insulating dielectric layer (20) disposed on the second sheet electrode, and (6) a third sheet electrode (22) disposed on the dielectric the second sheet electrode. The semiconductor layer, second sheet electrode and insulating layer have openings (19) at isolated areas; and the third sheet electrode makes electrical contact with the first sheet electrode through these openings, which may be round dots or lines.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Continuous mfr. of solar panels.
A solar cell, which includes a semiconductor material sandwiched between first and second electrodes, is made by a method comprising making an electrical connection to the first electrode through the semiconductor material; the connection being electrically insulated from the second electrode.    A solar cell made by this method comprises; 1) A transparent first electrically-conducting electrode layer, 2) at least one layer of semiconductor material on and in continuous electrical contact with the first electrode layer, 3) a second electrode layer on and in continuous electrical contact with the semiconductor layer, and 4) a third electrode layer, insulated from the second electrode layer.    The semiconductor and second electrode layers have openings at a set of isolated areas, and the third electrode layer makes contact with the first layer through these openings. The third electrode may include a grid of point electrical connections at the isolated areas, and may further include an electrically conducting network on and in continuous contact with the grid of point electrical connections.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The invention is used in a solar cell or panel for converting sunlight into electrical energy. The cell has a relatively low active area loss, and a low electrical power loss due to the electrical connections in the cell.
Fuel cells stacked one on top of the other each comprise a solid polymer electrolyte membrane on the anode side of which is a hydrogen flow field plate and on the cathode side of which is an oxygen flow field plate, the latter being permeable to water flow. Porous gas sealing plates form water filled barriers to reactant gas passage, the sealing plates surrounding and abutting the marginal edges of adjacent oxygen flow field plates. The oxygen flow field plates are operable to remove water from the surfaces of porous carbonized wetproofed paper sheets abutting the cathode surfaces of the membranes and are also operable by reason of oxygen reactant pressure to pass the removed water into the porous gas sealing plates. Water passageways in the stack communicate with all the porous gas sealing plates and operate to duct water from them to the end of the stack for removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Invention is an improved solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system which uses passive water management to remove product water from the cells to prevent smothering of the cathode by product water collecting on the surface of the electrolyte membranes. The compact assembly is suitable for use in the form of a back-pack for space station applications or the like.
Electricity is generated by: forming a barrier of non-dissolvable, O2-permeable material between a gas space and a bath of molten metal; supplying O2 to the gas space; adding a solid C fuel to the molten metal so that CO is formed with the O2 passing through the wall; recovering the CO; and drawing current from a positive electrode applied to the wall surface adjacent the gas space and a negative electrode immersed in the bath.    The molten metal is pref. Fe.    ADVANTAGE -   Process is efficient and be carried out efficiently on a large scale; it also produces a useful CO by-product.
When forming monomolecular film or accumulated monomolecular films on base material by developing soln. which is formed by dissolving cpd. in developing solvent in liq. phase, the liq. phase is formed by non-aq. solvent and the developing solvent is more hydrophilic than the non-aq. solvent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Since water soluble cpd. such as e.g. glucose oxylase, and alcohol hydrogenese, immune sensor, microbe sensor e.g. used for glucose dye, e.g. cyamine, and merocyamine or organic conductive material can be used, a film having stability and good property and surface stably oriented can be obtd. The developing solvent and solvent for forming liq. phase are selected from water, (halogenated) hydrocarbon, alcohol gp., ketone gp., amine gp. and etc. This method is applicable to mfr. various prods. such as photochromic memory, photochromic material, optical waveguide, light switch, EC display, EL display, and protect film in magnetic recording medium, solar cell, ion sensor and biological sensor etc.
Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system has solid polymer electrolyte membrane (2) having anode and cathode catalyst layers (4,6) on opposite sides. Adjacent the anode catalyst layer (6) is a porous anode flow field plate (8) including a continuous basal part (14) and a contoured face (12) face including lands abutting the anode catalyst and intervening grooves defining a flow path for gaseous Water is pumped into the basal part of the plate at a pressure near anode reactant gas pressure, the water migrating to the lands in continuous fashion to be absorbed into the electrolyte membrane. The anode flow field plate thus provides a moist surface from which water will evaporate to cool the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cell system is able to maintain the electrolyte membrane in a suitably moist condition and to keep the cell cool by evaporating water from the anode side of the cells, the prevention of cell dry-out and cell cooling being provided by a common water source.
The water coolant circulation system comprises: (1) a cooling conduit to circulate water coolant in heat exchange relationship with fuel cells in a power section of the power plant, (2) a steam separator separating steam from water coolant, (3) first conduit to duct water coolant and steam from cooling conduit to steam seaprator, (4) second conduit to duct oxygen depleted water from steam separator back to cooling conduit, (5) means to add oxygen-rich makeup water to oxygen-depleted water and (6) flow control means to control water flow in the system and to adjust proportion of oxygen-rich makeup water mixing with oxygen-depleted water coolant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement can be used to control the oxygen concentration in water employed to cool fuel cell power plants. The oxygen of water enters the cooling conduit in a range which minimises corrosion and optimises water chemistry.
A method of fabricating a semiconductor solar cell which has an oxide layer (11) above a doped wafer (10) with an oppositely doped junction (19) a support (18) to the top wafer surface forming a bondline (19) at the interface, and forming a doped back surface field and ohmic contact layer (20) on the bottom of the wafer. The latter is done by depositing a layer of doped amorphous material an melting it using a pulsed laser of sufficiently low intensity that the bondline is not thermally damaged. Also claimed is a method of applying a back surface layer to a solar cell as above, in which the wafer is thinned to less than 100 microns after being adhered to the support and before depositing the amorphous material and melting. Further claimed is a method of fabricating a solar cell as above with a transparent support member, in which a dielectric layer (21) is applied to the back surface of the ohmic layer after the melting stage and contacts (22) are formed through the openings (23) in this dielectric layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ultra-thin solar cells with improved breakage resistance both during and after fabrication are provided. Radiation resistance and efficiency are improved. The method also enables dopants to be introduced into the mounted device surface
The electrolyte comprises an oxide of Sr and Ce, and further contg. at least one oxide of a metal selected from Y, Sc, Yb, Nd, Mg, Pr, and Zn, where, a metal element having an ion radius larger than that of Sr partially substitutes for Sr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides SrCeO3 base solid electrolyte with improved temp. properties and increased conductivity. Thus, an effective electrolyte suitable for fuel cells, sensors such as H2 sensor, and CO sensor, is provided.
New proton conductive solid electrolyte consists of barium oxide, cerium oxide, and the oxide of Y, Sc, Yb, Nd, Mg, Pr or Zn. Part of cerium is replaced by a metal element which can combine ionically with oxygen weaker than cerium, pref., Zr, Ti, Hf, Si, Ge, Pb or Sn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for fuel cells or H2, H2O, NOx or CO sensors. The ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte is less dependent on temp.    Typically, BaCe0.8Zr0.1Nd0.1O3-a was prepd. as follows 197.35 g BaCO3, 137.70 g CeO2, 12.32 g ZrO2, and 16.28 g Nd2O3 were mixed in a ball mill and calcined at 1300 deg. C for 10 hrs. The mixt. was moulded and fired at 1400-1500 deg. C for 12 hrs. The resultant solid electrolyte sinter had an almost constant conductivity of about 3 x 10 power(-3) S/cm in the range of 670-870 deg. C.
Improved electrocatalyst comprises a Pt-Ga alloy contg. up to 50 at.% Ga, dispersed on a conductive carrier. Also claimed is an electrode for an acid electrolyte fuel cell comprising a catalytically effective amt. of the catalyst on an acid-resistant support member. Further claimed is a cathode for an acid fuel cell as above in which the Pt-Ga catalyst contains 5-50 at.% Ga and the alloy is present at 0.1-2 mg cm-2 on the support member surface.    Pref. the carrier is conductive C, pref. a powder, the alloy has a surface area of at least 30 m2g-1, and comprises 5-50 (pref. 10-30) at.% Ga, and comprises 0.1-30 wt.% of the alloy plus carrier. Pref. the electrode is an O-redn. cathode. Pref. the alloy is dispersed on a C carrier and further includes an acid-resistant binder, binding the catalyst to the support member. Pref. the carrier is either C or WC.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fuel cell electrode electrocatalyst with good retention of catalyst surface area during use is provided. This overcomes the shortening of the operating life and efficiency caused by sintering in conventional catalysts and avoids the need for catalyst overprovision.
A method of providing a bed of purified Si crystals is claimed, wherein Si is crystallised from a solvent metal, and the amt. of solvent metal remaining in the crystal bed is reduced to a low level. The method comprises the following steps: (1) providing a molten body contg. Si, the metal selected from Cu or Al-Cu; the Si present in an amt. greater than the eutectic point of the Si-metal combination, and the metal adapted to act as a solvent for the Si; (2) extracting heat from the body to give a solid phase contg. Si in crystal form, and to concentrate impurities in a molten phase; (3) removing a substantial part of the molten phase from the solid phase; (4) melting at least a fraction of the solid phase, to remove a substantial amt. of metal-Si combination adhering to the Si crystals, and (5) separating at least a fraction of the melted material from the Si crystals. The Si-metal combination pref. melts at 200-534 deg. C. The molten body pref. contains 20-80 wt.% Si. The walls of the vessel contg. the body are kept at a temp. high enough to prevent pptn. of the crystals thereon. The body pref. has a free surface through which heat is extracted, to give the solid phase contg. Si crystals. The heat is pref. removed form the free surface by impinging a gas thereon. The pref. gas is air. Heat may also be extracted by bubbling a gas through the body.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used to provide Si of semiconductor quality. The method is economical, and can be used to purify Si in substantial quantity.
A film contg. dispersing metallic chalcogen particles is prepd. by diffusing a soln. contg. transition metal ions from one face of a base film and diffusing another soln. contg. chalcogen elements dissolving a reducing agent from the opposing face.    Cation exchange membranes like 'Nafion' (RTM, Du Pont Corp), polyvinyl alcohol, nylon, cellulose, porous polyethylene or teflon membranes are used as the base film. The reducing agent is e.g. H2S, Na2S, Na2S2O3, Na2Se, Na2Se2O3 or Na2Te. Transition metal nitrates, acetates, oxalates or halides are used. Water, alcohol, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile or acetone is used as a solvent to prepare the raw solns..    ADVANTAGE -   A large area flexible film of metallic chalcogen like Cds, CdSe or PbS which is used as a photosensitive material for electrophotography, solar cells or optical sensors, can be provided. (5pp Dwg.No.0/0) (Reissued from 8918)
Packing sheet comprises a glass sheet laminated with a sealant layer.    The glass sheet is e.g. Pyrex glass, soda-lime glass, borosilicate glass, Zn borosilicate glass, etc. having a thickness = 50-200 microns. The sealant layer comprises polyester, polyamide, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride and laminated on the glass sheet with an adhesive layer (e.g. polyolefin resin modified by a carboxylic acid, polyolefin resin modified by a silane cpd., ionomer or partial hydrolysate of ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, etc.). The glass sheet is opt. surface treated by a silane coupling agent (e.g. aminosilane, vinyl silane or epoxysilane or polyolefin resin modified by a carboxylic acid or a silane cpd. for improving further the adhesion with the glass sheet and the adhesive layer and/or the sealant layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sheet is usable as the outermost layer of solar cells or electroluminescence elements. It has substantially complete moisture-proofing performance and retains the moisture-proofing performance for a long period without including a desiccant.
Amorphous photoelectric converting device is formed by placing one on top of the other a series of photoelectric elements each comprising a thin film of p-i-n structure. The p-type layer and n-type layer of adjacent elements are made of microcrystalline silicon so that good ohmic contact is established while the p-type layer of microcrystalline silicon contg. boron in an amt. sufficient to neutralize the donor atoms with diffuse from the adjacent n-type layer, when the device is left to stand at high temps.    The concn. of boron ranges from 3 x 10 power 20 to 2 x 10 power 21 atoms cm(-3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cells and photosensors. Efficiency is retained despite exposure to heat over long periods of time. (First major country equivalent to J01076778-A)
Modified intrinsically electroconductive polymer (I) in the oxidised (doped) form consists of polymer radical cation(s) (II) and an equiv. amt. of anion(s) (III). The novel features are that: (a) (II) consists of statistical average of 20-100% thienyl units, linked through the 2- and/or 5-position, of formula (IV): In (IV) R1 = 2-22C alkyl, 1-12C alkoxy, -CH2O(CH2CH2O)nCH3 or -O(CH2CH2O)nCH3 with n = 1-4; R2 = H, 1-12C alkyl or 1-12C alkoxy; and 0-80% units derived from electron-rich hetero-aromatics (V), which can form electroconductive polymers and copolymerise with (IV); (b) (III) consists of a statistical average of 0-100% inorganic anion(s), comprising halides, pseudohalide, halogen complex anions of gp. IIIA, IVA and/or VA element(s), oxo complex anions of gp. IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA and/or VIIA elements and anionic complexes of transition metals, 100-0% monomeric or polymeric organic anion(s) with at least one atom or functional gp., which is capable of carrying negative charge(s) and is the conjugate base to a Bronsted acid; and (c) the chemical structure and deg. of polymerisation of (II) are independent of (III).    Pref. (II) consists of 3-100 structural units, 50-100% of (III) consists of BF4 or PF6 anion; or 10-100% of (III) consists of a phenolate, carboxylate, phosphonate and/or sulphonate anion. (I) is prepd. by exchange of the anions in a soluble electroconductive polymer to give the specified anions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is useful in the electrical industry, for semiconductor devices, switches, screening material, solar cells and electrode material in electrochemical syntheses and batteries. It can be produced easily by anion exchange.
Pin junction photovoltaic element has at least the i-layer formed of Zn, Se and H atoms, the H content being 1-4 at% and the deposited layer contg. crystal grain domains in an amt. 65-85 vol.% per unit vol.    The p and/or n layers have a similar structure, plus appropriate dopants; the p-dopant is pref. a I or V element esp. Li.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a power source for e.g. calculators, watches etc. or as a solar cell. Element is low cost and provides high photo-electric conversion efficiency esp. for short-wavelength light. (Previously notified in week 8918)
Fuel cell for reacting an oxidising agent comprising O2 gas and a fuel, pref. a metal, comprising an anode, cathode, and electrolyte, at least one electrode being formed of an aniline polymer.    A pref. polymer is polyaniline (not claimed). Sec. cell has at least one electrode formed from an aniline polymer, the cell has high reversibility, esp. when the cell pH is controlled to 1-11 esp. 2-10 and pref. 2-6.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell has good electrochemical performance.
Diamond coating film contg. sulphur of 0.01-1000 ppm by wt. ratio, is on substrate. The film is deposited on substrate with chemical vapour phase growth method to produce diamond covered body. Sulphur-contg. reaction gas is used for the method. Contents of sulphur is 0.1-1000 ppm by wt. ratio, (1-800 ppm) pref., 10-500 ppm. Pref. the reaction gas comprises raw material gas and carrier gas diluting raw material gas. Raw material gas comprises; ercaptan and sulphide-contg. hydrocarbon gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Diamond covered body is used for wear and abrasion resistant coating for jig, protective film for solar battery, heat insulating board for optical lens or semiconductor parts. Diamond covered body has good adhesion to substrate.
In a device for forming gas for fuel cell by vaporising and reforming mixt. of methanol and water, a passage is formed in the outer wall of the container of the device for supplying the mixt.    ADVANTAGE -   Since the mixt. is preheated gas it is formed rapidly and is effective partic. in cold climate.
A single crystal of Si in the form of a thin dendritic ribbon is produced in conditions designed to eliminate contamination by oxygen or stemming indirectly from any traces of water. The novelty is in the preparatory steps in the process, principally a thermal pretreatment with the leading to a conventional crystal growth by pulling from the melt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The crystals may be taken for use in solar cells directly, with no subsequent treatments such as slicing and polishing, which are required when the traditional cyochralski method is used. Measurements of the photovoltaic yield indicate that the high purity material obtained significantly outperforms conventionally grown crystals. The procedure may also be used for the growth of crystals other than Si where very high purity is demoulded.
Appts. comprises: a first catalysed electrode (1) permeable to O2 but impermeable to liq.; second catalysed electrode (2); a connection (7,8) to each electrode; and a housing (3,4,5) arranged such that when partially immersed in a liq. mixt. (11) of fuel and electrolyte, the mixt. is able to circulate freely in contact with one side of the first electrode and both sides of the second electrode and the other side of the first electrode is exposed to the air.    USE -   As e.g. a teaching aid or as a small commercial fuel cell for a light, radio etc.
(A) Hydrogen and oxygen are removed from the freely moving electrolyes of H2/O2 fuel cell batteries operating in gravity-free space by addn. to the electrolytes of one of the gaseous reactants to adjust the H2:O2 mol ratio to 2:1 and then catalytic reaction of the H2 and O2 to water.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process includes, in the electrolyte circuit (1) of the battery (2), a gas recombiner (3) with a redox electrode (6), a reference electrode (7), H2 and O2 supplies (8,9) and a catalyst (10) for reacting H2 with O2.    ADVANTAGE -   The process removes H2 and O2 from the electrolytes under gravity-free conditions, e.g. when the battery is used in spacecraft.
(A) Hydrogen and oxygen are removed from the freely moving electrolytes of H2/O2 fuel cell batteries operating in gravity-free space by catalytic reaction to form H2O, the excess of one of the gaseous reactants in the electrolytes beyond the 2:1 H2:O2 mol ratio, being reacted electrochemically at a gas consuming electrode.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process includes, in the electrolyte circuit (1) of the battery (2), a gas recombiner (3) with a catalyst (6) for H2/O2 reaction, a gas consuming electrode and a reference electrode (7), a potentiostat (8) and a counter electrode.    ADVANTAGE -   The process removes hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolytes under gravity-free conditions, e.g. when the battery is used in spacecraft.
An electrolyte creepage barrier for a molten carbonate fuel cell comprises:- (1) a relatively thin layer of a predetermined material which is poorly wet by the electrode disposed in such a way as to substantially prevent electrolyte creepage at a negative end of the fuel cell. (2) a pair of ceramic members between which is placed the thin layer.    The relatively thin layer of predetermined material of the creepage barrier is pref. gold or gold-palladium foil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A means is provided of preventing a dramatic increase in cell resistance and hence a rapid and non-recoverable drop in cell voltage, during cell usage.
Thermoelectric conversion cell comprises: spaced solid electrodes with an H ion-permeable electrolyte between; H2 gas supply to one electrode; and a reactant supply to the other electrode which reacts with H2 and induces a current flow between the electrodes.    Pref. the reactant is a molten metal which forms a metal hydride with the H2; the hydride is then thermally decomposed back to H2 and molten metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in space technology. Reactants are regenerated, electrodes and electrolytes do not become fouled or plugged and the cell has a high current to wt. ratio.
Method of operating a hydrogen/halogen fuel cell comprises introducing humidified H2 fuel and halogen oxidant into the anode and cathode chambers respectively, catalytically dissociating the H2 into ions, transporting these through a solid polymer electrolyte membrane to the cathode, and passing the electrons through the external circuit. The oxidant reacts with H+ at the catalytic cathode to give acid. Prior humidification of the H2(32) gives excess which is protonically pumped to the cathode with the H+, thus diluting the cathode acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method improves the operating conditions of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells by diluting the acid building up at the cathode. High acid concns. increase the membrane resistance, leading to voltage loss, and also accelerate voltage decay by migrating to the anode and degrading the catalyst.
Si solar cell is formed by: forming a thin barrier layer coating (12) on a conductive Si substrate (11); forming holes (13) in the barrier layer by lithography and etching to expose microscopic areas of the susbtrate; and epitaxially growing Si (14) in the holes to provide electrical pathways through to the substrate.    The barrier layer is pref. oxide; first and second photoactive layer (14, 16) of opposite types are then added and contacts (18, 19) are provided on the front and back surfaces.    ADVANTAGE -   Low cost metallurgical grade Si may be used for the susbtate while providing high efficiency solar conversion.
Material comprises the alloy contg. Fe, Cr, and Ni, with K=1400-1800, where K=CFexCCrx0.2CNi2, (CFe, CCr, and CNi are respectively the contents of Fe, Cr, and Ni), pref., K=1450-1700.    USE -   For molten carbonate type fuel cells, showing excellent corrosion resistance in harsh environment in the cells.
(JP93079192-B)      The element comprises an n-type CdS semiconductor layer printed and sintered on a support baseplate made of a glass having a glass transition point higher than 700 deg.C and forming temp. of the semiconductor layer.    USE -   Used for solar cells and photosensors. (J01064368-A)
Lithium-and aluminium-salts are dissolved in solvent and mixed with reaction agent (pref. soln. contg. ammonium carbonate). After synthesising two or more lithium cpds. these are burnt at temp of over m.pt. of synthesised lithium cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Lithium aluminate with large surface area can be produced. Lithium aluminate is efficient as unequal system catalyst carrier. Also useful for liq. holding material or high alkali holding material e.g. electrolyte of fused carbonate type fuel cell.    In an example, ammonium carbonate 1 hydrate of 190.2 g was dissolved in 500 cc distilled water. In other container, lithium nitrate of 52.3 g and aluminium nitrate 9 hydrate of 284.5 g were dissolved in 300 ml distilled water. To soln. ammonium carbonate soln. was dropped with stirring. After maturing overnight, this was dried at 120 deg. C and burnt at 800 deg. C in air for 36 hrs. Lithium aluminate of high specific surface area of 50-70 m2/g was obtd. Also its average grain dia. was small e.g. 100 Angstrom.
(JP93032912-B)      Film comprises an electrolysed polymer film of Ru or Os complex of 5-aminophenanthroline. It may be made by doping a Ru complex of basophenanthroline sulphonic acid in a conductive high polymer.    Used for solar cells and optical sensors. (J64057763-A)
Div. ex. 4254190, 4554222 Cip 4218520, 4305999, 4369234, 4416954, 4554222 (+16.3.79, 12.7.76, 18.8.80, 26.2.81, 29.9.82, 18.11.85-US-020967, 704452, 179274, 238626, 482472, 799317).    Electric power is generated by: passing a slurry of reactive metal particles in an electrolyte soln. past an inert anode current collector (7); storing reactive metal particles away from the electrolyte; and supplying them to the slurry on demand, the reactive metal being a metal or alloy of Al, Li, Na, Mg or Ca. Reactive metal is consumed at the anode and water at the cathode and H2 (15) is evolved at the cathode (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In marine applications, electric vehicle propulsion etc. High energy density power is provided from an economically competitive fuel.
Polyaniline is prepd. by decarboxylating polyaniline deriv. contg. carboxylate gp(s).    The polyamine is prepd. by the chemical oxidn. polymerisation or electrochemical oxidn. polymerisation of an aniline deriv. of formula (I) in which R1-R4 are each H or carboxylate gp. (e.g., 2- or 3-carboxyaniline, 2,3-, 2,6-, 2,5- or 3,5-dicarboxyaniline, 2,3,6- or 2,3,5-tricarboxyaniline or 2,3,5,6-tetracarboxyaniline). The chemical oxidn. is carried out with an oxidising agent (e.g., Fe(ClO4)2, hydrogen halide, nitrate, sulphate, K ferricyanide, Cr2O3, K2Cr2O7, Na2SO5, K2SO5, (NH4)2SO5, etc.) in a solvent (e.g., acetonitrile, nitromethane, nitrobenzene, water, etc.) at 0-10 deg.C for 1/6-20 hrs.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aniline polymer is soluble in an organic solvent such as dimethylacetamide, DMF, THF, etc. and the polymer in the form of neutral salt is soluble in water. It is formed into conductive film by casting or spin coating it with high casting workability. It is usable as an electrode or for prepg. electrochromic display element, capacitor or solar cell, etc.
Polymer has repeating unit of formula (I) (where R1 and R2 are independently H, a metal cation or a basic cation or 1-12C alkyl and n |= 2-100) and is prepd. by reacting a dialkyl succinylsuccinate of formula (II), with phenylene diamine to provide (III) and oxidising the formed polymer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The aniline polymer is soluble in organic solvent such as dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl formamide, THF, etc. and the polymer, in the form of neutral salt, is soluble in water. It is formed into a conductive film by casting or spin coating. It is used as an electrode or for prepg. electrochromic display elements, capacitors or solar cells, etc.
(US4936924-A)      In a method of mfr. of a thin-film solar battery, photoelectric power generating elements, each having junction and back-electrodes a semiconductor layer and a light-permeable electrode are formed on a light-permeable substrate. A laser beam is irradiated from the substrate side on to the junction electrode of one of the elements and the light-permeable electrode of the adjacent element, coagulating the melt to connect the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Back electrode can be patterned without adverse effects to the photovoltaic characteristics of the semiconductor layer. @(12pp)
Electrolyte membranes comprise an ionic conductor (I), a liq. ionic capillary-condensed conductor (II) or an ion-exchange resin (III) immobilised in the pores of a porous solid polymer membrane which has a thickness of 0.1-50 (pref. 0.1-25)microns, a porosity of 40-90 (pref. 60-90)%, a tensile strength of not less than 200 (500 pref.) Kg/cm2 and an ave. dia. of permeable pores of 0.001-0.1 (pref. 0.005-0.05) microns. A method of prepn. of an electrolyte membrane is claimed (see below).    USES -   The membrane is used in fuel cells, batteries, electrochromic devices, sensors, high efficiency capacitors, brine electrolysis, water hdyrolysis, donnan dialysis and memory devices. Low electric resistance and high mechanical strength membranes are required.
Improved amorphous silicon deriv. PIN junction photovoltaic device has a transparent electrode (2) comprising ITO (indium-tin oxide) and SnO2 layers on the P (3) or N (4) layer on the light-impinging side so SnO2 layer contacts P or N layer. The SnO2 layer is 30-500 Angstrom thick, (50-500 Angstrom thick). The amorphous semiconductor of the P or N layer ha has formula a-Si(1-x)Cx, aSi(1-y)Ny, or a-Si(1-x-y)CxNy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Device has an improved conversion efficiency. Used in solar cells, photoswitches, etc.
A module for the connection of a battery of electrochemical cells, specially of fuel cells with a pressure plate (1), made of plastic or plastic coated metal, a cell frame (2,3) and an elastomer frame (10) has a copper plate (7) with a copper lug (11) for the external current connection. Two electrodes (4,5) are connected to the plate (7) by corrugated contact sheets (8,9) which are welded to the latter. The spaces (12,13) are filled with a fluid to generate a pressure. The contact sheets are made e.g. of nickel with 1mm corrugations. The reactants (H2,O2) are supplied at a pressure of 2 bar, and the pressure medium (N2) at 3 bar.    ADVANTAGE -   This module permits an operation at a higher ambient pressure. The cells of a stack can be connected in parallel.
A thermoelectrochemical current-generating cell comprises PbO cathode (24) and PbSO4 anode (26) in their compartments (18, 20), sepd. by a common ion permeable wall (22), and with external connections, a concn. H2SO4 cathode soln., and an aq. buffer Na2SO4-NaHSO4 anode soln. During current generation H2SO4 is consumed and water produced at the cathode, and Na2SO4 converted to NaHSO4 at the anode. The anode soln. is transferred to a thermochemical regenerator (12) where NaHSO4 at the anode. The anode soln. is transferred to a thermochemical regenerator (12) where NaHSO4 is converted to Na2SO4,SO3 and water, and Na2SO4 and SO3 transferred back to the cathode and anode respectively. Also claimed is a method for generating an electric current between anode and cathode as described above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A sulphuric acid concn. gradient battery which avoids the large-scale distn. of water is provided. Also for fuel cell. Thermal conversion of NaHSO4 into Na2SO4 and SO3 provides a simple and efficient means of replenishing the chemicals consumed in current generation. Low-cost materials are used, high power density is obtainable and the open circuit voltage is 0.5V.
A supported Pt catalyst (where microparticles of Pt are supported on carbon black) is dispersed in water and an oxyacid salt of a refractory metal is mixed and dissolved in water, then an acid is added to it so that the oxyacid of the refractory metal is pptd. on the supported Pt catalyst, which is then burned in a reducing atmos.    As the refractory metal, titanium, tungsten etc. are pref. used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As the oxyacid of the refractory metal is pptd. on the supported Pt catalyst, the refractory metal is readily alloyed and an electrode catalyst for fuel battery with improved activity and durability can be obtd.
Prodn. comprises forming into sheet a stock contg. 50 to 90 wt.% of (A) organic fibre for producing carbon fibre and 10 to 50 wt.% of (B) fibrillated organic fibre by a wet paper making process, drying the sheet, impregnating it with (C) organic polymeric substance, drying it, and heating it at 800 deg.C or higher in an atmos. of inert gas to carbonise it.    Pref. (C) is e.g., thermosetting resin. (A) has a fineness fineness of e.g. 1.5 to 10 denier and length of e.g. 5 to 20 mm. (B) has a freeness of e.g. up to 300 mL CSF. The amt. of (C) impregnated is e.g., 60 to 120 wt.% of the sheet on a solid basis.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The porous carbon board is used as base material for electrodes of fuel cells and sec. batteries. It has low density and high porosity (75 to 80%), gas permeability, strength, chemical resistance, and electroconductivity. It is produced at low cost.
(US4904548-A)      Fuel cell stack to which a reformed fuel and an oxidiser are supplied is controlled by: operating the stack at a constant voltage; measuring an output current Is from the stack; calculating the difference between this and a predetermined current Io; and reducing or increasing the supply of fuel and/or oxidiser so that Is is made to approach Io, so that power is generated by the stack in a stable manner.    ADVANTAGE -   Stable output power is efficiently obtd. without need for excessive fuel consumption in the reformer burner. (First major country equivalent to J01038969-A) @(13pp Dwg.No.3/6)@
(JP2567613-B2)      A device for refilling a fuel cell with electrolyte is disclosed. A carbon gas separator which comprises a cell stack with a cell has at least one side sealing surface in a shape not previously included. A fluororesin moulding member (12) having an electrolyte collection drain (13) is joined to a recessed part. A small hole (14) designed for impregnation of the electrolyte is connected to the drain (13) in the fluororesin moulding member (12). A tapering screw hole (15) is closed by a stopper is moved. The tapering screw hole (15) is closed with a tapered screw.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Refilling fuel cells with electrolyte. The refilling device delivers a specified volume of electrolyte.
An electrically conductive polymer compsn. is prepared by polymerising an aromatic compd. in the presence of a polymer (I) containing a polydentate anionic complex having a redox potential sufficient for oxidative polymsn. of the aromatic cpd.    Alternatively the oxidative polymsn. can be carried out in the presence of an oxidising agent containing a polydentate anionic complex and a polymer containing anions which are spontaneously exchangeable with the polydentate anionic complex.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The conductive polymer compsn. is used as an electrical conductor or semi-conductor, as an electrode material, in a solar cell, as an antistatic finish for plastics or paper, as an electromagnetic shielding material, as an electrochemical membrane, in a heating film, for capacitive scanning or in a fuel cell.
Prodn. of carbonyl-substd. 1,4-dihydro-dibenzo(b,i)-(1,4,8,11) -tetraaza(14)annulene cpds of formula (I) involves liberating the basic ligand (I) from (I) metal complex cpds. of formula (II) with conc. protonic acids: The prepn. of (II) (not claimed) is described e.g. in Jaeger, E.G. and Seidel, D., Z. Chem., 1983, 23, 31, 261; and DD217519.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Reaction is simple and friendly to the environment and takes only a few min. under mild conditions, requiring neither high energy consumption nor special appts. (I) are obtd. in good yields and high purity by a direct method, i.e. without subsequent substitution. (I), in the form of ligands or in free form, can be used as dyestuffs, redox and electrical catalysts (e.g. in oxidn. with atmos. 02, fuel cells or electrochemical sensors for 02 or NO), components of electroconductive materials and catalysts for polymerisation and isomerisation reactions.
A supported ternary metal catalyst contains an active component consisting of at least 50 atom% Pt, Ga, and one of Cr, Co, Ni or mixt. of these, supported on a carbonaceous material and displaying at least 30 m2 of surface per gram of catalytically active material. Pref. the Ga content is 5-20 atom%, and the third element is Cr or A Co/Cr mixt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst has a high mass activity for the electrochemical reduction of O2, and is useful for fuel cells, where it shows resistance to both sintering and chemical dissolution during operation. The operating life of the fuel cell is thus prolonged(Fig), with much greater stability of output voltage.
Appts. comprises a reactor tube composed of an inner and outer tube and reforming catalyst between the inenr and outer tubes. The outlet side of the reactor tube is heated independently of thermal medium to heat the inlet side of the tube.    USE -   For fuel cell power system.
Appts. to reform methanol gas into H2-rich gas comprises reactor tubes, each composed of an inner and an outer tube, each charged with a reforming catalyst to form outer and inner reactor spaces connected mutually, the reactor tubes being located in a casing.    USE -   For fuel cell power systems. inner
Bismuth-holmium oxide with hexagonal system layer structure is of formula Bi2-2xHo2xO3 (x is 0.205-0.245). Prodn.; 1) Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) or cpd. which is decomposed to Bi2O3 by heating and 2) holmium oxide (Ho2O3) or cpd. which is decomposed to Ho2O3 by heating, are mixed so ratio of Ho2O3 is 20.5-24.5 mole %. They are heated at up to 700 deg.C in air. Oxygen-ion conductive material comprises bismuth-holmium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New cpd. of Bi2-2xHo2xO3 (x is 0.25-0.245) is useful for oxygen ion conductor. It is to be used for oxygen sensor, fuel cell, or oxygen pump.
Pin-junction photovoltaic element includes at least the i-layer formed of Zn, Se and H ats., the H content being 1-4 at% and the layer contg. crystal grain domains in an amt. 65-85 vol.%. Pref. the p and n layers have the same compsn. but include p or n dopants; pref. p dopant is a I or V element esp. Li.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a power source, e.g. solar cell, for electrical devices. Element exhibits improved conversion efficiency esp. at short wavelength and has a high open circuit voltage, it does not cause light-induced fatigue even after prolonged use.
A semiconductor device manuf. by, forming a buried channel for a charge coupled device (CCD) in a semiconductor substrate; forming an impurity diffusion region in which a transistor for a peripheral circuit of the CCD having opposite conductivity type to that of buried channel is formed, impurity diffusion region being formed of same conductivity type as that of buried channel is characterised by buried channel and inpurity diffusion region being formed simultaneously, pref. by ion implantation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Manuf. of semiconductor for use as an image sensing device having a CCD and its peripheral circuits on the same substrate. Provides for high threshold level and stable operation of transistors.
On a large area substrate (1), pref. glass or ceramic, a conductive layer (2) is formed, e.g. a reflecting metal-, graphite- or transparent oxide-layer, e.g. doped Sn-oxide.    In the last case pref. a reflecting metal layer is deposited on the underside of the substrate. A polycrystalline p-Si layer with a grain size of 200-500 microns and 20-100, pref. 50 microns thick is deposited. A pn-junction is formed in this layer, pref. by P-implantation or P-diffusion. Parallel grooves, pref. 0.5 cm wide, are cut in the poly Si layer and the conductive layer at regular distances of 1-2 cm down the entire width of the susbtrate, pref. using milling, laser scribing or etching with a photoresist masking layer.    The grooves are filled with an electrical insulator (6), pref. a resin. Contact holes (7) are formed in the Si-strips (3) to make the back-electrode (2) accessible.    Using screen-printing, a metallic contact layer (8, 9) is formed on the surface of the Si-strips connecting with the back electrode of an adjacent strip. The top contact consists pref. of at least one stripe, running parallel (9) to the groove and one running at a right angle (8) to this. The last one makes the series-connection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell uses less Si, and, by using a reflecting back electrode allows substantial absorption of reflected radiation, or redn. in the Si-layer thickness. The cells are already series-connected, so elaborate processes to make this connection, as used in current cells, are no longer necessary. A large array is easy to implement and is capable of handling the large currents. The construction is used for the mfr. of solar cells for power applications.
On a substrate pref. glass, ceramic or plastic, parallel grooves with a rectangular shape are formed. In the bottom of these grooves an electrically conducting, reflective layer is formed, pref. by evapn. of CrNiPd-alloy. Then over the entire surface at 20-100 micron thick p-doped polySi layer with a grain size of at least 200 micron is deposited, pref. by CVD, sputtering etc. The layer surface ia made level with that of the walls, pref. 0.5 cm wide, left between the grooves, using polishing, etching or milling. N-type impurities, pref. P are implanted, diffused or coated on to form a pn-junction. Contact grooves are formed along one edge of the plySi strips. A metallic layer is applied by screen printing, forming a top surface electrode and connecting this with the bottom electrode of an adjacent strip.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cells do not require excessive metal contact areas, even when large areas are used. The cell efficiency is high and the Si layer thickness reduced by e.g. 80%, thereby reducing the cost, the reflecting layer allows thinner Si-layers to be used. The series connection is an integral part of the processing. The cells are used for high power supplies.
The tandem solar cell has a first cell consisting of a large area polycrystalline Si layer, a second cell of a large area of transparent amorphous hydrogenated Si: a-Si:H. The cells are sepd. by a large area, electrically insulating sheet (12) which acts as an optical coupler, and are electrically connected to the outside with separate electrical contacts. The first cell pref. consists of serially connected strips of single solar cells (4), pref. 1-2 cm wide, and with an area of about 100 cm2, formed on a substrate (1). The active layer is pref. a thin film.    Als claimed is a polySi layer mfd. as a tape and used for the first cell. The coupling layer (12) is pref. glass or resin and shall not absorb or reflect radiation. The Si used in the second module is pref. also formed as strips and has the same cell-width as that of the first. The cells are so fitted together that the substrate of the second cell provides the encapsulation for the whole module.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell has improved efficiency, e.g. 20-25%, because it absorbs short wavelength as well as long wavelength radiation in the visible light spectrum falling on it, due to the different band gaps of a-Si:H (1.75 eV) and polySi (1.1 eV). Because the electrical connections are separate, the cells are more flexible in use. Long term stability is improved by the use of thin film a-Si:H layers.
Porous composite electrode used in electrochemical cells has first and second faces defining a relatively thin section in between. The electrode comprises an ion conducting material (17), an electron conducting material (15) and an electro-catalyst (16). The vol. concn. of the ion conducting material is greatest at the second base and decreases across the section of the electrode, while the vol. concn. of the electron conducting material is correspondingly greatest at the first face. All of the electrocatalyst is within the electrode section in a relatively narrow zone where the rates of electron- and ion -transport are approximately equal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the electrochemical generation of electrical power from the consumption of reacting gases of liqs. or the electrochemical generation of chem-cpds. from the consumption of electrical power. Electrocatalyst use (in watts generated per mg) and fuel cell performance (as measured by voltage efficiency) are increased.
An organic cpd. is vacuum evapd. to form anorganic amorphous film while light is irradiated.    Light is pref. irradiated on the organic films deposited on a substrate. Light is irradiated both on the organic films deposited and the gaseous raw organic cpd. through the substrate. Light is irradiated on the organic cpd. placed on a heating boat. Light is irradiated on at least one of the organic cpds. when a number of organic cpds. are vacuum evaporated. Source material is pref. spiropyran, stilbene, azobenzene or fulguide, vacuum evaporated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Amorphous transparent organic films are formed by vacuum evaporation. Resist films, organic film solar cells, photochromic films or optical disc media can be produced in a dry process.
Si-dioxide coating is obtd. by contacting treating soln. contg. aq. soln. of hexafluorosilicic acid supersatd. with a substrate for depositing Si-dioxide coating on the surface of the substrate. The concn. of the hexafluorosilicic acid in the treating soln. is 3.5-5.0 mol/l.    USE -   For coating alkali-contg. glass used as LCD panels, and substrate glass for solar cells to prevent eluation of alkali components out of the glass. Dense Si-dioxide coating contg. less OH group can be obtd. without special treatment such as heat treatment after forming the coating.
A solar cell substrate comprises a tempered glass plate (1) on which is a transparent electrically conductive layer (2). Also claimed is a substrate as above with a thin film coating (11) on the incident surface of the plate and the conductive layer (2) on the opposing surface, so that the film coating counterbalances the warping forces produced by the conductive layer during tempering. Also claimed is a method for mfg. the substrate which forms the transparent conductive layer (then deposits the thin film coating if present), heats the plate and rapidly cools it to effect tempering. Also claimed is this method in which heating is to a predetermined temp. below the softening temp.    Pref. the glass palte has a surface compression stress of at least 250 kg/cm2, and the electrically conductive layer is tin oxide. Pref. the substrate further comprises p, i and n a-Si layers and an Al electrode sequentially on the conduction layer (2), the latter being pref. formed by CVD. Pref. the glass plate is transported horizontally during processing, and the thin film coating is pref. ZnO, SnO, In2O3, SiN or SiO2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Tempered solar cell substrates are provided which are resistant to damage during handling, installation or use. This is esp. true of the larger area amorphous Si cells not being made.
Methanol fuel reforming unit produces fuel gas to feed to fuel battery by vaporising and reforming a mixt. of methanol and water. A reflux circuit (14) connecting the distributor (12) and the fuel tank (1) through reflux flow control valve (13) is provided and part of vaporised fuel is returned to the fuel tank by controlling the control valve complying with battery load.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for small portable fuel battery power generating system. The device can feed vaporised fuel reqd. immediately by operating in full and controlling return flow with the control valve. The response speed of fuel gas generation coping with load fluctuation is shortened significantly, which improves load response of the power generation system.
The protective coat contains B, N and Si as the essential elemental ingredients. Pref. atomic concn. ratio Si/(Si+B) in the protective coat is greater than 0 but smaller than 1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The protective coat is applicable typically to opto magnetic recording medium, solar cell, optical lens, mirror, etc. It permits control of refractive index without varying the film thickness, and offers enhanced hardness and optical transmittance.    In an example, SiH4, B2H6, NH3 and N2 were introduced to a vacuum chamber in which the substrate was held. The total gas flow rate was maintained at 500 cm3/min., and h.f. power of 0-500 W was applied to generate plasma between the substrate holder and an electrode. Protective coating film contg. B, N and Si was deposited on the substrate surface. Refractive index of the coating film was controlled by varying the flow rate ratio SiH4/
Removing ammonia, gaseous ammonium cpds. such as ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates, and carbon dioxide contaminants from contaminated water in a closed water cycle fuel cell power plant comprises (a) providing a stream of the contaminated water at superatmospheric pressure and elevated temp. having an ammonia content of less than about 500 ppm by wt.; (b) performing a first steam stripping operation on the stream of contaminated water by contacting the latter with steam to strip a first portion of the ammonia content from the water; (c) performing a second steam stripping operation on the contaminated water after the first steam stripping operation is completed to strip a second portion of the ammonia content from the water; (d) combining contaminated steam exhausted from the second steam stripping operation with steam used in the first steam stripping operation during performance of the latter so that the first steam stripping operation is performed with a combined supply of steam and feeding combined contaminated steam exhausted from the first steam stripping operation into a condenser to condense water out of the combined contaminated steam; and (e) venting contaminated steam from the condenser at controlled rates so that the vented steam has a water content which is less than the available amt. of water produced by the electromechanical reaction in the fuel cell power plant.    ADVANTAGE -   System power plant does not require that externally sourced make up water be added tothe power plant.
Prepn. comprises melting Si in a crucible put in a heating vessel, heating in an inert gas atmos. with a heater and crystallising the melted Si by lowering the crucible slowly out of the heating zone of the heater without rotating the crucible.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By controlling the cooling rate and the temp. distribution in the melted Si, a high purity Si ingot having highly oriented crystal growth and uniform grain size is produced. It is used for a solar cell substrate.    In an example, Si was put in a square crucible with a side of 10cm which was surrounded by a heater in a heating vessel. The vessel filled with an inert gas was heated until the Si inside was completely melted. Then the cradle of the crucible was cooled with water and lowered slowly out of the heating zone without rotation. The crystallisation of the melted Si started at the bottom and the crystal growth proceeded upwards. The Si ingot produced was removed from the crucible and cut perpendicularly to the ingot axis to produce wafers.
Flexible light acceptor consists of a flexible and insulating transparent plastics substrate plate, a transparent electrode layer on the substrate plate, a semiconductor layer having photochemical electro motive property, a backing electrode, and a flexible insulation layer having similar heat shrinkage characteristic to the transparent plastics substrate plate.    The transparent plastics substrate plate, e.g., consists of polyimide, po.yethersulphone, polysulphone or polyetherimide etc. The transparent electrode layer, e.g., consists of Sn oxide, In oxide, or its solid soln and can be produced by sputtering or vapour deposition, etc. The semiconductor layer, e.g., consists of Ge, Se, InSb, CdS, CdSe, or Si etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The flexible light acceptor has excellent curling resistance with change in temp., and is suitable for use in photodiodes, solar batteries, phototransistors, photoelectric conductors or photothyristors, etc.
A multilayer thin film is formed by introducing a mixed 1st raw material gas capable of either plasma exciting or photo-exciting chemical reactions, and a 2nd raw material gas having a different reactivity, into the reaction chamber. Either one of these reactions is effected continuously, where the one chemical reaction is intermittently or continuously effected in a different sequence from the other one, to form a laminated thin film by effecting one chemical reaction and then the other, alternatively on a substrate.    USE -   For forming amorphous semiconductor superlattice thin film, used for solar cells or thin film transistors.
In the carbon composite prodn. a paste comprising a thermosetting resin and a filler selected from carbon powder, short C-fibre, organic resin powder, pitch powder, coke powder, metal grind powder, powdered metal, Si3N4 whisker, and SiC whisker, is applied to a base consisting of a non-woven cloth made of a synthetic fibre or a mixed fibre of organic, carbon and/or natural organic fibres. The base is dried to give prepregs and is then laminated and heated under pressure to effect condensation polymerisation of the thermosetting resin to obtain a moulding and subjected to firing to effect carbonisation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For separators of fuel cells.
(JP2504467-B2)       The electrolyte plate for a fused carbonate fuel battery includes at least two matrix layers for holding the fused carbonate electrolyte. The matrix layers are made from a raw material based on lithium aluminate and binder. A mixt. of electrolyte and binder is loaded into the space between the matrix layers, and the mixt. and matrix layers are joined by thermocompression bonding at 70-200 deg.C and 50 kg/cm2pressure.    ADVANTAGE -   The obtd. electrolyte plate is flat and smooth, and its component parts are held together reliably. The process is shortened.
A fluorine-contg. thermoplastic resin polymer comprising of a gp. of repeating units of a cyclic structure of formula (Ia) and/or (Ib): n = 1 or 2. The polymer has a molecular wt. such that the intrinsic viscosity is at least 0.1. A second polymer is included comprising (i) at least 80 wt% of repeating units (Ia) and/or (Ib); and (ii) a gp. of repeating units of formula -(CF2-CFX)- (II). X = F, Cl, O-CF2CF2CF3, O-CF2CF(CF3)OCF2CF2SO2F and O-CF2CF2CF2COOH3. The polymer has a molecular wt. such that the intrinsic viscosity of the polymer is at least 0.1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The novel polymers contain an asymmetrical cyclic structure having an ether bond, in the main chain. They are suitable press-, extrusion- and injection-moulding and exhibit excellent transparency, chemical resistance, electrical insulation, heat stability, acid/alkali/water resistance, and have high transmissibility to UV and infra-red rays. Uses include moulded optical pts., substitute optical pts. made of quartz glass, infra-red sensors, coatings for optical pts., protective membranes for solar batteries, gas sepg. membranes, and treatment agents for textile materials.
Radiant energy concentrator comprises a slab type dielectric waveguide (3) contg. layers of fibre waveguides with coaxial diffusers (1) in the waveguide cores (2) that effect internal scattering and trapping of incident radiation in guide modes to effect propagation of the trapped energy to the waveguide ends and thus concentrate the energy. The upper surface of the device is an air-cladding interface and the lower surface (5) is a reflective layer.    USE -   In concn. of solar energy or photo-phosphorescence by use of internal Rayleigh-MIE scattering.    ADVANTAGE -   Scattered energy is recycled to provide a cumulative trapping effect to maximise concn. of the incident light at the device edges.
Support loaded with Pt powder is contacted with a soln. contg. Co cpds. and Cr. cpds. to adhere them to the support which is treated at a high temp., so that Pt-Cr-Co alloy is formed.    Pref. carbon black is used as the support. Chromium nitrate and cobalt nitrate are used. The support is treated at 800-1000 deg.C for 0.5-2 hrs. in an inert gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for fuel cells. Cr and Co can be uniformly simultaneously deposited. The ratio of Cr/Co can be freely changed.    In an example, 10g of carbon black loaded with Pt were dispersed in 400 ml of water; a soln. contg. 7g of chromium nitrate and 4g of cobalt nitrate in 100 ml of dil. HCl was added to the carbon black dispersion. Dil. NH4OH was added to adjust the pH of the dispersion to 7.5. The carbon black powders were filtered off, dried at 90 deg.C, and heated at 900 deg.C for 2 hrs. in N2 gas.
Supports loaded with Pt powders are contacted with soln. contg. cobalt chromate to adhere cobalt chromate to the supports then the supports are treated at high temp. so that Pt-Cr-Co alloy is formed.    Pref. carbon black are used as the supports. The supports are treated at 800-1000 deg.C for 0.5-2 hrs. in inert gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Catalyst is used for fuel cells. Cr and Co can be uniformly simultaneously deposited.    In an example, 10g of carbon black loaded with Pt were dispersed in 400 ml of water; soln. dissolving 4g of cobalt chromate in 100 ml of dil. HCl was added to the cabron black dispersion; dil. NH4OH was added to adjust the pH of the dispersion at 7.5; the carbon black powders were filtered off, dried at 90 deg.C and heated at 900 deg.C for 2 hrs. in N2 gas.
Appts. comprises a temp. detection position, adjuster to change the reforming temp. detecting position of a temp. sensor in a reforming reactor tube according to the prodn. rate of the reformed gas.    USE -   For fuel cell power plants.
Filter appts comprises a coupling, e.g. threaded bolt to couple with a meshed disc set in a filter casing, so that the disc can be taken out from the filter, together with a filter paper laid on the disc.    USE -   For recovering catalysts from fuel cells.
(JP96034103-B2)      Electrolyte plate has wet seal section between upper and lower casing frames. The case frames are vertical. The electrolyte board forms part of a fuel cell and has a frame like periphery bound tightly to the vertical case frame. A recess is formed in the frame-like periphery, with the circumference of the electrode shaped to match.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte plate is used in a fused-carbonate fuel cell. Mechanical strength of the peripheral part is improved. Quality of melt-carbonate held is increased significantly. Leakage of gas from a sealing part is controlled.
Thin membrane solid material consists of P contg. silicon. Its optical forbidden zone is 2.0-2.8 eV and its electric conductivity is 100-1000 (siemens/cm). It has good transparency.    Pref. the number of P atoms in the solid matter is 0.01%-1% (about 0.1%) w.r.t. the number of Si atoms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The thin membrane is useful for transparent conductive membrane, window material and coating material of a solar cell and light sensor.
A methanol reformer comprises a cylindrical furnace, a burner placed at upper part of the furnace, a cylindrical wall placed around the burner, a vapourizer placed in the wall, a reactor placed at the outside of the wall and connected to the vapouriser and an outlet. The reformer also comprises an air chamber between the burner and the reactor and air is supplied from the outside of the furnace to the air chamber controlling its amt. based on a catalyst temp. in the reactor.    USE -   The compsn. and amt. of flow of reformed gas do not change when the load of the fuel cell changes, because the catalyst in the reactor is not super-heated.
Thin sheets are joined with their edges to each other by designing the edges with trapezoidal teeth which are offset in one sheet from those in the other by one pitch. The teeth are then folded over the gaps in the other sheet and the ends are finally bent through 45 deg.    Specifically both edges of the two thin sheets (10,11) receive trapezoidal teeth (12,13), sepd. by trapezoidal gaps and offset so that the teeth can be bent in the gaps of the other sheet end (14,15). Both sheets are then bent to the required angle from each other (16,17).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the bodywork of motor vehicles, joining zinc-plated parts to lacquered parts, cardboard packages, steel furniture, PVC plates joined to metal sheets, spacecraft applications, solar and battery mfr., lead protective screens against radiation. This joins even coated sheets safely and without detrimental effect on the appearance, also materials which are difficult to weld and requires no final dressing.
Apparatus for a process involving a gaseous mixture comprises a thin film macroscopically homogeneous polymer blend membrane (1) of high protonic conductivity and two separate portions (5,6) of catalytic agent effective to promote dissociation and combination. The membrane is formed by removing solvent from a soln. of 10-70 wt.% phosphoric acid and 30-90 wt.% organic polymer. The phosphoric acid is hypo-, meta-, ortho-, pyro- or poly-phosphoric acid. The polymer is polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl fluoride, polyethylene imine, polyethylene glycol, cellulose acetate, poly(ethyl oxazoline), polyvinyl sulphonic and, polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyimide, polymerylamide, polyacrylic acid, poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide), poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) or a copolymer of the corresponding monomers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The apparatus is used for an electrochemical process involving a gas which is capable of combining with hydrogen ions or dissociating to yield hydrogen ions in the presence of the catalyst, e.g. for a fuel cell, or is used for separation of hydrogen from a gaseous mixture including such a gas.
Solid material in a thin film comprises a B-contg. Si, pref. transparent, having an optical forbidden band of 2.0-2.5 eV, and an electrical conductivity of 100-500 S/cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used as a transparent electrode or a window or coating material for solar cells or photosensors. The material is highly electroconductive and transparent.    In an example, a mixed gas of Si hydride, e.g. SiH4 or Si2H6 and p-type dopant e.g. BH3 or B2H4 diluted with H2 gas is decomposed by RF-glow, DC-glow, or microwave discharging and deposited on a substrate at a rate of 0.01-50 Angstroms/sec. to form a 1000-5000 Angstroms thick thin film, which is heat treated. The number of B atoms contained in the material is 0.0001-50(0.01-1)% w.r.t. Si atoms, pref. 0.1%.
The removal of carbon impurities from raw Si comprises the steps: (1) raw Si contg. SiC is fused in a container to settle and remove SiC from raw Si; (2) the raw Si having reduced SiC is heated at a temp. higher than the first step to dissolve remaining SiC impurities; (3) the fused raw Si is cooled in a container so as to crystallise the remaining SiC impurities on the walls of the container. The container used in step (1) maybe replaced by another container in steps (2) and (3).    ADVANTAGE -   SiC which is the source of carbon impurities can be removed effectively prior to carbon removal under reduced pressure.    In an example, 10 kg of raw Si contg. 500 ppm C by wt. were heated at 1450 deg.C in step (1), at 1550 deg.C for 20 min. in step (2), then at 1420 deg.C for 10 min. in step (3). The purified raw Si which still contained 40 ppm C was treated at 1450 deg.C under a reduced pressure of powe10 power (-3) atm. for 60 min.; carbon impurities were reduced to 1 ppm.
Apts. comprises a thermal medium flow passage changeover unit to connect a thermal medium expansion tank in series to a thermal medium circulating line connected between a reforming unit and thermal medium boiler when the operation of the reforming unit is stopped.    USE -   For fiel cell power generators.
Appts. comprises a catalyst pressing structure to press the end face of a reforming catalyst bed formed in the passage, through a gas-permeable press board.    USE -   For fuel cells.
Methanol reformer appts. has an air chamber formed between the burner and reactor disposed in a heating chamber formed around a tubular partition wall surrounding the burner located in an upper central space of the furnace.    USE -   For fuel cells.
Appts comprises a reactor to gasify and reform a mixt. of methanol with water; a burner fuel feed passage connected to the reactor, and a burner fuel reformer to reform at least a part of the mixt. only when the burner is ignited;. The reformer is disposed in the burner fuel feed passage.    USE -   Used for fuel cell type power generator systems.
(JP2517287-B2)      The fuel battery comprises a gas sepg. membrane (1) between the electrodes (P, N) a matrix (M2) supported between opposite skims (5) which are L-shaped; SiC matrix with gas inlets, adhered to anode (P) which is rectangular and corresponds in shape and size with a filling-in pt. (4), being arranged between filling-in pt. and anodic gas inlet. Each skim is a compressed fluororesin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery is of, e.g., phosphoric acid type. Leakage of electrolyte is prevented, the anode prevents damage from reaction gas inlet, and seal is improved.
SiO2 Coating is previously formed on surface of glass and the coatingis removed by etching to make glass surface uneven The coating is pref. formed by soaking the glass in aq. H2SiF6 soln. super-satd. with SiO2 or by coating aq. alcoholic soln. of alkoxy silane cpd. on the glass surface and hydrolysing.    ADVANTAGE -   Forms fine uneven structure on glass surface at low cost and with good controllability, so esp. used as glass board of solar cell etc..
In a photoelectric conversion thin film used in photo diode, etc. monomolecular layer of a Rhodamine dye, of formula (I) (where R1, R2, R3, and R4 are alkyl, at least one of which is a 10-30C lonq-chain alkyl) are laminated on a conductive base plate, e.g. metal such as Al, Ag, etc., glass plate, a plastic film, by an LB method, etc.    Pref. thickness of the conductive base plate is 0.1-10m/m for glass plate and 10-200 Angstroms for thin metal film formed on the base olate such as glass plate, etc. The pref. number of the laminated layers of the monomolecular film of the Rhodamine dye is usually 2-20, more pref. 5-11 for optimum photoelectric conversion. The Rhodamine dye laminated film is pref. film composed of a mixt. of Rhodamine dye and 10-30 C long-chain fatty acid such as stearic acid, etc., may be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The photoelectric conversion thin film is used in photo diodes, solar cells, etc., with high quality photoelectric conversion. B
Glass is coated with a material including at least one metal having an at. number of 22 to 29 followed by a thin layer of aluminium. It is then heated above its softening point and bent or toughened.    Pref. soda lime glass is heated to 570-620 deg.C The coating may be a solar control coating of stainless steel, titanium nitride or copper, or may be a mirror coating providing a light transmission of less than 1%. Other coatings may be of chromium, nickel or titanium. The aluminium may be applied in an amount equivalent to a layer of thickness 10 to 40 nm.    ADVANTAGE -   Application of a layer of aluminium permits heating for bending or toughening after the metallic coating has been applied.
The cell is constructed as follows: on a p-Si substrate (12) a contact (24) is formed on the back surface. On the front-surface are a first SiO2-insulation layer (14), contacts (18) and a second dielectric layer (16) of Si-nitride or oxynitride. During reworking at least the second dielectric layer (16) and front-contacts (18) are removed and replaced by corresponding new layers. Pref. the alkali-ions (22) e.g. Cs, contained in the first dielectric layer (14) are removed.    The removal of the layers is selectively and a chemical or plasma-chemical etch-process is used. The second dielectric layer is removed first, then both contact-layers at the same time, pref. by using a mineral acid e.g. o-phosphoric acid, by immersion at 50-100 deg.C. The contacts may also be plamsa-etched using Cl2. The 2nd dielectric layer is pref. removed by plasma-etching using C2H6 + O2 or NF3. The metal-layer (18) and 2nd dielectric layer may also be removed by mechanical means.    Also claimed is reforming of the solar cell by formation of the active layers on the opposite side of the wafer to that from which they have been removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process allows re-using devices which otherwise would be scrapped. This represents a yield improvement and involves technically simple processing steps.
The cell (10) or solar-cell module is encapsulated by deposition on at least its outside surface of 2 superimposed layers (12,14). These consist respectively of a dielectric Si-cpd and a Carbon-layer, amorphous or crystalline. At least one of the layers is less than 10 micron thick, the sum of both layers is pref. less than 15 micron. The Si-cpd. used is pref. Si-nitride, the thickness of this layer pref. less than 5 micron,or Si-oxynitride, the C-layer is pref. less than 1 micron thick.    The encapsulation is carried out by plasma- or microwave-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of the Si-cpd layer at a max. of 500 deg.C and of the C-layer at max. 200 deg.C. substrate-temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The layers provide excellent protection against weathering, without degrading optical, mechanical and thermal properties significantly. The process used allows economic mfr. to be carried out.
A catalyst on titanium carbide support forms an oxygen-reducing electrode in a fuel cell. The support is characterised by a particle size of 50-400A and open porosity and chain-like structure and is formed by heating TiCl4 vapour with unsatd. hydrocarbon and H2 at 500-1100 deg.C. The support surface area is at least 25 m2/g and it has improved corrosion resistance and catalytic activity compared with a carbon black catalyst contg. the same amount of catalyst.    Pref. the TiC support is formed using a H2:TiCl4 vol. ratio of more than 6:1 and using a vol. of hydrocarbon such as Ti:C is less than 4:1. A fuel cell as above pref. contains phosphoric acid electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fine TiC powder is used as a fuel cell electrocatalyst support and is especially useful in oxygen reduction electrodes for phosphoric acid fuel cells (claimed). The support has improved corrosion resistance (figure) and catalytic activity (claimed) and lower resistance at higher pressures than carbon supports, and thus increases the lifetime of the fuel cells.
Fuel cell comprising an anode contg. a catalyst, an ion exchange membrane electrolyte, a cathode and wet proofing means is cooled by:- (1) forming a liq. water mist from supplied liq. water using an aspirator, (2) controlling the amt. of liq. water mist introduced to prevent flooding of the anode, (3) adding a desiccant material to the anode to prevent local area flooding and to transport the liq. water mist through the anode to the ion exchange membrane,evaporating water formed in the cathode and passed through the wet proofing means so as to cool the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For applications requiring large, very efficient power-to-weight ratio such as in spacecraft, submarine or ground vehicles. A high pacting density is achieved by eliminating the need for a separate cooling compartment while current and power density capabilities are also increased (all claimed).
Appts. for electrically conditioning electrodes in an electrolyte comprises: metal electrode(s) in an electrolyte and having cathodic and anodic portions; and a pulsating dc voltage signal source connected to the electrode. The signal parameters are designed such that H2 is produced from the electrode cathodic portion while the anodic portion is maintained in a depassivated state where no O2 is produced and the anodic portion is consumed. Pref. the peak pulse voltage, duty cycle and pulse repetition rate all have pre-determined values to provide the above conditions.    USE -   In e.g. cells producing high quality H2 for fuel cells; in electrolytic prodn. of metal (hydr)oxides; or in electrolytic processes to remove rust, scale, debris etc. from metal surfaces e.g. in steel pickling, metal plate cleaning etc.. Appts. provides a fast, low cost process.
Appts. for performing an electrochemical process involving a gaseous component comprises a thin film polymer blend membrane (1) in a housing, (2). The membrane separates two gas chambers (8,9). The membrane (1) has high protonic conductivity.    It is formed by removing solvent from a soln. of a blend of 10-50 mole % phosphoric acid, 40-80 mole % organic polymer and 10-40 mole % organic polyacid. The phosphoric acid is hypo-, meta-, ortho-, pyro- or poly-phosphoric acid. The polymer comprises vinyl alcohol, vinyl fluoride, ethyleneimine or oxyethylene units or is cellulose acetate. The polyacid is an acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or styrene sulphonic acid polymer. The apparatus contains two separate portions of catalyst(s) effective to promote dissociation and combination, one portion in contact with each surface of the membrane (1). each portion of catalyst(s) has means (b) for forming an electrical connection (3,4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrochemical process involves a gaseous mixt. having a component which is capable, in the presence of catalyst (5), of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions or combining with hydrogen ions. Fuel gas can be supplied to one chamber (8) and oxidant gas to the other chamber (9) or a gaseous mixt. can be supplied to chamber (8) and pure hydrogen removed from chamber (9).
A high efficiency tandem solar cell of high specific power comprises a CaaAl1-aAs upper cell and a CuInSe2 lower cell with a transition zone between them to match the lattice structures.    Also claimed is a method of making the solar cell above in which CdyZn1-ySzSe1-z is deposited on an upper thin film of GaaAl1-aAs and a lower thin film of CuInSe2 is deposited on this transition zone. Further claimed is a method of making a monolithic single crystal tandem solar cell as above, comprising making a single crystal upper thin film cell of a III-V alloy, hetero epitaxially depositing a lower thin film cell of I-III-VI2 alloy on this, and depositing a back contact on the lower cell.    Also claimed is a method of making a solar cell comprising making an upper thin film of III-V alloy, a lattice mismatch transition zone of at least one II-VI alloy, lower thin film of I-III-VI2, and forming a back contact on the lower film. Additionally claimed is a method of making a high efficiency tandem cell of high specific power comprising making a double heterostructure single crystal film upper cell including GaaAl1-aAs, where a lies between 0.6 and 1, depositing a graded transition zone beginning with ZnS0.05Se0.95, and depositing a CuInSe2 lower zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell arrays for space need specific powers well in excess of 300 W/kg. CuInSe2 cells are only 10 microns thick without the substrate and are much more radiation resistant than Si. The upper cell has high absorbence and electron mobility and the band gap may be tuned to optimise performance.
Process comprises continuously moving an inner tubular member up and down, relative to the surface of molten Si contained in the crucible.    USE -   For making solar cells.
The device includes a reformer reactor for hydrocarbon material.It is provided with a container for storing part of the hydrocarbon material which is desulphurised.    USE -   The device can be restarted, after stoppage, without requiring an external hydrogen source.
(JP2774496-B2)      The method involves arranging a pair of porous electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte layer which is impregnated with electrolyte. A fuel gas is supplied to one of the electrodes. A pair of fuel gas manifolds (12,13) and a pair of oxidizing agent gas manifolds are provided for supplying or exhausting fuel gas and oxidizing agent gas, respectively, to or from a unit cell multilayer body through a separator. The unit cell multilayer body has multiple unit cells laminated together and outputs electrical energy to other electrode. A partition board (18) is provided inside the manifold of the fuel gas. An amount control valve (19) is installed in the gas piping (16), linked to each space formed by the partition. The opening of control valve is controlled, so as to control the voltage distribution of the battery to be uniform.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents commutation due to hydrogen insufficiency. Increases life of battery.
A functional deposited film comprised of atoms of Zn, Se, and at least H atoms, is characterised in that: (a) film has crystal grain domains pref. 6.5 to 85 vol.%, and non-crystal grain domans; (b) it can be doped with p- or n-type dopant. Pref. the film deposited on a single or non-single crystal substate, is represented by the formula ZnSe:H:Mp where H is 0.5 to 8 atomic % (pref. 1 to 4 atomic %), Mp represents 2 to 1 x 10 power(4) atomic ppm of a p-type dopant where M is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cu, Ag, P, As or Sb.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved ZnSe:H deposited films for use as inexpensive photovoltaic elements having a high photoelectric conversion efficiency, particularly applicable to solar cells and as a power source for electrical appliances.
A series of layers, pref. Si, with different conduction types and including a pn-junction, is deposited on a semiconductor substrate, pref. single- or poly-crystalline Si. During the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) the impurity type and concn. can be changed. The CVD is pref. carried out at atmospheric or reduced pressure, with or without plasma enhancement. After deposition the layers are subjected to a heat treatment which does not affect the carrier lifetime but moves the junction into the substrate. The temp. and doping gas concn. are adjusted to give min. penetration of the impurity and increasing doping level in the deposited layer, continuously or step-wise.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The deposition and following heat treatment can be carried out at low temps., reducing degradation of the carrier mobility. The doping level and -type can be freely chosen and modified. Both single crystalline and polycrystalline layers may be deposited. The equipment used is inexpensive and deposition takes a short time, resulting in a relatively inexpensive process.
C-material is made by (a) impregnating thermosetting resin into the sheet or plate of cellulose obtd. by hydrolysing the sheet or plate of acetyl cellulose; (b) compression moulding it and (c) firing the compact.    USE -   For making C-material used for separators of phosphoric acid type fuel cells having surface accuracy.
Appts. includes a fuel cell which provides electrical energy and a stream of oxygen-depleted, nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust. The cathode exhaust is liquified to form a mixt. of liq. nitrogen and liq. oxygen. The mixt. is subsequently sepd. to produce stream of nitrogen product and stream of oxygen by-product.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The nitrogen is used as a feedstock for chemical syntheses or as an inert atmosphere. The process is particularly useful for uses where there is not great demand for the oxygen by-prod. Oxygen, which would consume energy in a conventional liquifaction appts., is removed prior to liquifaction, only a minor portion of the liquified stream consisting of oxygen.
Zirconia ceramics contg. a stabiliser are mfd. by (1) hydrolysing the mixed soln. of soln. of Zr, and at least one stabiliser to form sol, drying the sol, and calcining it at 700-1300 deg.C; (2) mixing the obtd. calcined powder with at least one of zirconia and stabiliser, calcining the mixt. at 500-1300 deg.C; and (3) compacting the obtd. calcined powder, and sintering the compact at 700-1700 deg.C.    USE -   For (partially) stabilised zirconia used for oxygen sensors, and fuel cells.
(JP93071196-B)      Prodn. comprises flowing a diluting inert gas or H gas in an initial stage of a decomposition reaction of a higher-order silane and then reducing the flow rate of the gas when forming an amorphous Si layer.    USE -   For power sources. (J63289968-A)
A first adjustment is performed of the supply of the power to a load by the battery in response to the sudden variation in load until the fuel cell responds to the sudden variation in load. The DC power delivered from the battery is converted into AC power for supply to the load. The response of the fuel cell w.r.t. sudden variation in load is delayed in time by an integrator.    The power supplied form the fuel cell is controlled while performing a second adjustment of the supply of the power to the load by the fuel cell after the fuel cell responds to the sudden variation in load. (First major country equivalent to J63289773)
Sr (Ce, Zr)O3 system ceramics is made by reacting soln. contg. suitable amt. of at least one metal component except Zr, as a constituent of the ceramics, and Zr-contg. soln. to form a co-ppte., drying the co-ppte. and calcining it at 700-1300 deg. C; mixing the calcined matter and the cpd. of residual components of objective Sr(Ce,Zr)O3 system ceramics compsn., and calining the mixt. at 5O0-1300 deg. C; compacting the obtd. calcined powder, and sintering the omact at 700-170 deg. C.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Variety of sensors, and fuel cells, as functional ceramics. With the method, high density ceramics can be obtd.
Zirconia ceramics is made by forming soln. contg. suitable amt. of at least one metal element except Zr as a constituent of stabilised zirconia or partially stabilised zirconia, and Zr; reacting the soln. with ppte. forming soln. to form co-ppte., drying it and calcining at 700-1300 deg. C; mixing the calcined matter and cpd. of the residual components of objective stabilised or partially stabilised zirconia, followed by calcining the mixt. at 500-1300 deg. C; compacting the obtd. calcined powder, folowed by sintering the compact at 700-1700 deg. C.    USE -   For making stabilised or partially stabilised zirconia ceramis used for oxygen sensors, and fue cells, as a functional ceramics.
(JP93033835-B)      Solar cell module comprises solar cell element having CdS-CdTe junction on glass base and sealing the cell element in space defined by the surface glass, protective film and resin layer.    USE -   Used for power sources. (J63283079-A)
A precursor soln. for use in the formation in a solar cell of a thin film comprises a ternary or quat. cpd. contg. Cu at least one group III element from Al, Ga or In, and a group VI element from S, Se or Te.    The soln. is formed by:- 1) Dissolving a dry cuprous halide in an organic dipolar aprotic solvent capable of solvating the cuprous ions to form a complex ion in which the cuprous ions are joined to organic ligands, 2) Adding to the organic soln. an q. soln. of salts contg.. the group III elements.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The stoichiometry of the material can be adjusted to produce a band gap with an optimum match to the terrestrial solar spectrum (Eg = 1.45 eV).
Current flow and distribution in a porous anode of a bipolar plate of a cell pile is improved by providing metal platelets (9) embedded in the porous anode layer (8) which can be welded to the contact sheet (11) after passing through holes (14) in the corrugated sheet.    ADVANTAGE -   A satisfactory current contact is established by reduction sintering the platelets (9) to the anode layer (8) to produce a crystalline metallic joint between the two which prevents a high resistance barrier layer forming.
A circular loom to produce a woven tissue with radial warp threads and peripheral weft threads in a certain configuration is used for the mfr. of cores to produce parabolic mirrors for satellite antennae, infrared telescopes or solar heat collectors. Shuttles (2) hold the warp threads (1) in turn by upper (4) and lower (5) clamping devices. Clamps (7) for the peripheral weft threads produce a compact woven tissue. A weft thread turning device (51) causes the weft threads (6) to pass through the open warp shed created by the warp shuttles. A spherical or parabolic template (11) retains the desired shape of the woven article.    ADVANTAGE -   This requires no subsequent deformation of the woven tissue, resulting in any deterioration of the qualities of the prod.
Cell includes an annular elongated inner electrode (2) contg. an interior gas feed conduit (3); annular solid electrolyte segments (4) around the inner electrode; annular outer electrode segments (6) around the electrolyte segments; conductive non-porous interconnects (5) between electrolyte segments and in contact with the inner electrode; and porous metal fibre current collector felts (7) on top of the interconnects and outer electrode segments. The non-porous interconnects and porous felts are located around the cell transverse to its axial length; and the inner electrode is continuous for the entire axial length of the cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell has simple geometry and connection pattern for adjacent cells, forming large strong units with high unit power; circumferential voltage drop in the air electrode and non-uniform current density are eliminated.
In a fuel cell system with an internally reforming fuel cell (2) and a gas transfer device (4) for recycling H2 in the fuel cell exhaust back to the fuel cell, the supply fuel is passed through the transfer device so as to allow controllable transfer of water with the transferred H2, thus providing a stream automatically contg. water necessary for the steam reforming reaction in the fuel cell.    The amt. of water transferred is controllable by dependence on the fuel supply.    ADVANTAGE -   Need for a water condenser is eliminated, power requirements are reduced; and the overall system efficiency is improved.
Pyrrole polymer is prepd. by (i) mixing pyrrole, or soln. of pyrrole in an alcohol, with a soln. of FeCl3 as oxidative polymerisation catalyst in the alcohol in a concn. = 30 wt.% -satd. concn. after the mixing; and (ii) stopping the reaction within 60 min. by adding excess alcohol.    The solvent is e.g. monohydric alcohol (e.g. methanol, ethanol, etc.) or polyol (e.g. ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, etc.). When the alcohol dissolves FeCl3 sparingly, a mixt. of alcohols is used. Other solvents which have been used conventionally in the polymerisation of pyrrole cannot be used in lieu of the alcohol(s). The polymerisation of pyrrole depends on the concn. of FeCl3 in the alcohol(s). The polymerisation is carried out in a mol. ratio of FeCl3/pyrrole = 1:0.1-1:1. It is initiated in several sec. and the conductivity of the formed polymer increases rapidly to arrive at the peak in 10-20 min. and then decreases first rapidly and then slowly. The polymerisation is stopped by adding to reaction mixt. an excessive amt. of the alcohol to reduce the concn. of FeCl3.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The pyrrole polymer has high stability in air and high conductivity = 100-200 S/cm without doping. It is moulded to form electrodes for galvanic cells, secondary batteries, solar cells, semiconductor elements, etc. or shielding materials for electromagnetic waves, etc.
Porous ceramics body is made by compacting a mixt. of ceramic raw material comprising 30-90 wt.% coarse particle stabilised zirconia with 30-500 microns ave. particle size of prim. particles, at least 0.5 wt.% talc, up to 5 microns ave. particle size of prim. particles, and balance fine particles of stabilised zirconia having up to 5 microns ave. particle size, to which binder and water were added followed by firing the mixt. at 1450 deg.C or higher.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For making porous ceramics body used for filters, for gas and liq., and porous matrix piping for high-temp. solid electrolyte fuel cells, having at least 60% air permeability, and at least 3 kgf/mm2 bending strength.
In a methanol reformer to produce fuel of fuel cells by vaporising and reforming a mixt. of methanol and water, the temp. of the mixt. supplied to a burner nozzle (3) is detected and amt. of the mixt. sprayed from the nozzle and amt. of air from a fan (5) suitable for the amt. of mixt. are calculated based on its viscosity at the detected temp. The voltage of a motor of the fan is controlled so that the amt. of air calculated is obtd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To stabilise combustion by a burner under optimum conditions by detecting temps. of a mixt. of methanol and water to supply stable gas components to a fuel cell.
(JP2569550-B2)      Temp. distribution improvement of fuel cell is effected by providing a heat transfer promoting configuration. The fuel cell has an oxygen electrode, a fuel electrode and separator. The heat transfer promoting configuration passes heat to the separator.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat is distributed evenly throughout the cell. High electricity generation power density can be obtd.. Economical efficiency is improved.
Electrolytic polymer produced by electrolytic-polymerisation of N-phenyl benzidine of formula (I) is new.    The electrolytic polymer is pref. obtd. by dissolving (1) monomer of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrode and depositing polymer on the electrode. Component (2), e.g. (n-C4H9)4NC1O4, (C2H5)4NBF4, is purified and vacuum-dried prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymer is useful as electrochromic display elements and can be used in solar batteries, sec. batteries, image sensors. The polymer is electrochemically active film and polychromic and has fine reversibility.    In an example, 0.68 g of tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (Cpd.I) as an electrolyte and 0.026 g of N-phenylbenzidine as a monomer were dissolved in 20 ml of acetonitrile with a magnetic stirrer. The electrolytic liq. obtd. was charged in an electrolytic cell. Ito glass (surface resistance 20-30 ohms) as working electrode, platinum wire as counter electrode, and SCE as reference electrode were set in the cell. The electrolytic liq. was electrolytically-polymerised by applying O V to 1.5 V to O V to SCE at 50 mV/sec. for 5 cycles. The polymerised film was red and insol. in methanol, acetone and tetrahydrofuran.
Electrolytic polymer is produced by electrolytic-polymerising biphenyl amine cpd. of formula (I). The electrolytic polymer is obtd. by dissolving (1) monomer of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrodes and depositing polymer on the electrode. (2) e.g. (n-C4H9)4NClO4, (C2H5)4NBF4 is purified and vacuum-dired prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymer is useful as electrochromic display elements and is expected to be used for the mfr. of solar batteries, sec. batteries, image censors. The polymer is electrochemically active film and polychromic and has fine reversibility.
Electrolytic polymers produced by electrolytic-polymerising cpds. of formula (I) are claimed. (R = H or a 1-5C alkyl).    The electrolytic polymers are obtd. by dissolving (1) monomers of formula (I) and (2) electrolytes in (3) organic solvents, setting e.g. a pair of electrodes in the solns. and applying voltage to the electrode and depositing polymers on the electrode. (2) e.g. (n-C4H9)4NC1O4, (C2H5)4NBF4 is purified and vacuum-dried prior to use. (3) includes e.g. acetonitrile, alcohol. The concn. of (2) is 0.01-1.0 mole/litre (0.05-0.3). The concn. of (1) is 1 mmole to 1 mole/litre.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolytic polymers are useful as electrochromic display elements and are used for the mfr. of solar batteries, sec. batteries, image sensors. The polymers are electrochemically active film and polychromic and have fine reversibility.
A novel mirror consists of (a) a base plate of carbon fibre-reinforced carbonaceous material, a mirror glass layer applied to the base plate, and a metal layer on the free surface of the mirror glass layer; or (b) a base plate of glass-impregnated carbon fibre-reinforced carbonaceous material, a mirror glass layer applied to the base plate, and opt. a metal layer on the free surface of the mirror glass layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The mirror is used esp. in the terrestrial and space applications for solar energy collection, laser reflection, optical communications, etc. It is lightweight and has excellent mechanical properties (such as elastic modulus, strength and fracture resistance) and thermal properties (such as low thermal expansion coefficient, high thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance).
Rooms in buildings are protected from the rays of the sun in summer when it rises high in the sky by placing on the inside pane of double glazing a number of prisms with a very acute angle, with the apex pointing upward. Any sun rays entering above a certain angle above horizontal, is totally reflected internally in the prism and impinges on light radiation receiver cells which convert the solar heat energy.    Specifically, a window consists of the frame and double glazing. The prisms bonded to the inner pane have an angle at the apex of under 20 deg. The rays from the sun are totally reflected and impinge on the solar radiation converters at the base of all prisms. A horizontal line of sight of an inhibitant will be negligibly distorted. The prisms are made of glass PMMA or polycarbonate by a casting or injection moulding technique.    ADVANTAGE -   Any inhabitant looking out of the window will have an undistorted view (within a certain angle above and below horizontal). The solar rays do not reach the inside in summer but generate energy (current or heat).
Damage is introduced in the semiconductor material by implanting highly energetic ions (M greater than 4) pref. using noble gas ions or ions of the target material. A high dose, pref. not less than 10 power 13 cm-2, is used to generate a buried region of damage. The subsequent proton-implant is carried out with an identical projected penetration depth and a high dose, pref. not less than 10power 16 cm-2, to hydrogenate within the damaged area. The implants are pref. carried out at 300-700 K and pref. parallel to lattice directions. After the hydrogenation an anneal is carried out at a temp. near 700 K. Also claimed is an implant with a continuous range of energies to generate a thicker, buried hydrogenated area.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process generates less surface damage, some of which can be annealed out later. The process is uncomplicated and inexpensive. Hydrogenated amorphous layers of III-V cpds. can be mfd. Using masks it is possible to define laterally the shape and position of the regions. The process is used to mfr. solar cells, electro-photography liquid crystal operation, photodiodes and optical conductors.
The device has individual blades (2) drives (1) fitted on the lid (3). The assembly is simplified since the device is additionally provided with a replaceable annular cowling (4) with openings (5) fitted on the lid. The drives are fitted on the cowling in pairs and diametrically opposite and their shafts (6) are situated in the openings. The drive flanges (7) are fitted on the cowling periphery by means of bolt or pin connection (8).    ADVANTAGE -   Simplicity of fitting, which reduces work load, and increases inter-repair operation. Bul.7/23.2.89.
Impeller (1) for a hydraulic turbine has a circular central body (2) peripherally supporting cup-like blades (3) of composite material. Each blade has a passage (5) extending therethrough with an element (6,7) inserted through the passage to extend along a path concentric the impeller axis to provide mutual cohesion between the blades.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In a Pelton-type hydraulic turbine partic. for generation of small quantities of electric power from mountain streams. Element (6,7) unites low cost moulded separate blades to provide a robust durable assembly having a high hydraulic efficiency.
A fluid power extractor includes a rotatable prime mover (2) in a a housing (8), the prime mover being driven by vanes (18) in an airstream (AS2) entering via a port (14) to a large volume chamber (16) and discharging through outlet port (22). Another, first, airstream (AS1) initially spaced apart from the prime mover airstream (AS2) flows round the housing (8) and past the outlet ports (22) of the prime mover airstream (AS2).    It there enhances the pressure difference between inlet and outlet ports thus improving the power extraction from the moving fluid. The fluid may be air or water allowing windpower hydroelectric or hydromechanical power extraction. Various embodiments and airflow control systems are given.    ADVANTAGE -   Up to 45% efficiency. Convenient and safe power take off, with reverse draughts prevented.
Embodiments are given for converting renewable energy sources to electricity. A boat is anchored on a flowing stream with paddle wheels and is driven by the stream driving an air compressor of special design supplying an air storage tank located on the stream bank driving turbo alternators supplying power as required. A second embodiment includes a double sleeved wave-pump compressing air to 600 psi and carried via an air line to the beach and stored underground till required to power turbo-alternators.    A third embodiment includes a tide trap, trapping air under a structure, compressing it by the rising tide and using it to power turbo-alternators. Correspondingly on a falling tide power is generated as the air replaces the water.    ADVANTAGE -   Appts. adornable with flowers.
The driven device may comprise a generator. In addition, a device is provided for insuring buoyancy of the device so that the water wheels float with their axis above the level of water. The buoyant device comprises a buoyant float that also provides a hydrodynamic lift and a hydrodynamic force for carrying the device to the centre of the stream.    The device comprises a hydrodynamic device that provides both the lift and the transverse force. The water wheels are stacked for ease of packing and additionally an arrangement is disclosed for permitting replacement of individual blades of the water wheels.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved sealing.
(US5029288-A)      The power generation system operating method comprises the steps of sequentially detecting a generated output of the induction generator and sequentially changing a command value of the speed command to a higher speed value when the detected generated output shows a tendency to increase.    When the detected generated output shifts from an increasing tendency to a decreasing tendency, the command value of the speed command is changed to a lower speed value and thereafter returned to a higher speed value.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved efficiency. @(First major country equivalent to J01270798)@ @(9pp DWg.No.1/4)@
The plant has the independent controls for three parameters of electrical machine: excitation flux, current and voltage of stator with preset control laws. Therefore the machine mechanical characteristic can be made with a regulated stiffness and the acceleration devices are eliminated.    The plant comprises of the sync. machine (1), controlled converters (2,3), smoothing reactor (4), current transducer (5), electrical network (6), current regulator (7), current controller (8), excitation current regulator (9), exciter (10), flux transducer (11), flux controller (12), regulator (13) transducer (14) - controller (15) for rotational speed, voltage regulator (16), reproduction unit (17), voltage transducer (18) and a rotator position transducer (19).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In wind and hydro-power engineering. Working stability is improved in generator and motor operation modes in a wide range of rotational speed variation. Bul.18/ 15.5.89.
A curved glass sheet substrate (21) for a solar cell has a transparent electroconductive film (22) formed on its concave surface.    Also claimed is a solar cell comprising the substrate (21), an a-Si layer on the electroconductive film, and a back electrode (26) on the Si layer. A solar cell-installed glass window for an automobile comprises the solar cell and a glass plate laminated on the a-Si side with an interlayer between them.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar panels (claimed) for e.g. sunroof windows in cars are provided, which are of pleasing appearance, free from dazzle and have visible light transmittance.
The portable water-powered electric generator unit has a tubular form with opposite open inlet and outlet ends defining a longitudinal flow path for the moving stream water. The tubular form defines a converging venturi terminating at a throat between the inlet and outlet ends. An electric dynamo, having a sealed housing and external driving propeller is supported in the flow path downstream of the throat, with the propeller at the throat. The inlet end is between 2-5 times larger in area than the venturi throat, to speed up the water passing through the propeller.    The tubular form and housing together define a diverging venturi downstream from the throat, decelerating the water with minimal losses before exiting from the open outlet end. The open outlet end is 1.1-1.5 times larger in area than the open inlet end. The slightly faster surrounding stream water blending with the exiting water at the open outlet end may tend to accelerate the exiting water slightly for added efficiencies. A buoyancy chamber, with remotely operated valve and gas pressure is on the portable electric generator unit to regulate its overall buoyancy, for adjusting its operative depth of use in the stream.    USE -   Electricity generator which is effective even when moored in relatively slow-moving water.
An ultra-high-efficiency tandem solar cell comprises an AlxGa1-xAs upper cell (12), an AlyGa1-yAs intermediate cell (14), and a CuInSe2 lower cell (18), with a lattice matching transition zone (16) attached to the intermediate cell above the lower cell.    Also claimed is a method of making a solar cell comprising forming a CLEFT buffer on a removable substrate on which is deposited upper and intermediate cells, transition zone, lower cell and a back contact (22). The substrate is separated from the layers, and the CLEFT buffer removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An ultra-high-efficiency monolithic heteroepitaxial cell (claimed) having high specific power is provided. It is easy to mfr. and has good radiation resistance. It is esp. useful in spacecraft power systems.
The electrohydraulic speed regulator for an hydro-turbine and contg. a frequency-sensitive part (1), a proportional differential-integral signalling unit (2) consisting of the series-connected differentiation (3), summation (4) and integration (5) sections, electrohydraulic converter (6), a servomotor slide (7) of guide appts., press. head sensor (8) and an opening limitation mechanism (9), has a comparator (10) formed by an operation amplifier (11), diode (12) and the resistors (13-15,18). The reference voltage supply (16) and the n.o. contact (17) attuned to operate at 30-50% of rated rotational speed of the hydro-turbine are other new parts.    There is no intermediate stopping of the mechanism for limitation of opening of the servomotor slide. Attainment of rated rotational speed is smoother. The water acting upon the water wheel of the hydro-turbine increases the turbine rotational speed. At 30-50% of rated speed the relay n.o. contact connects the reference supply to the comparator. As a result, opening of the valve appts. is reduced to no more than 2-4% of the no load opening.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As an electrohydraulic speed regulator for hydro-turbines, reliability is increased and service improved. The opening of the guide appts. on starting is variable as a function of rotational speed. Bul.6/15.2.89.
The structure is of a cross-sectional width sufficient to absorb static and dynamic loading from the water source and defines only a draught tube for the turbine. The turbine is mounted centrally within an annular inlet casing to form a separate turbine assembly. The turbine assembly has a support structure extending downwardly from the wall of its inlet casing and is mounted on further support comprising a foundation pad or piling.    The turbine assembly in use will transmit static and dynamic loading to the bed of the water source via said support structure. The outlet end of the inlet casing is provided around its mouth with an annular radiused or coned spigot designed to be fitted against a co-operating bearing surface formed around the inlet end of the draught tube to provide an articulated, releasable connection. Locks are provided for effecting the releasable connection.    USE -   Power generator which can be located in a tidal water flow.
A cascade solar cell construction comprises: a metallisation contact which has a predetermined width and allows an output of electric current generated by cell, and which partially blocks light and produces a shadowed area beneath it; a top solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath metallisation contact, having a width larger than that of metallisation contact and constructed of materials selected from AlGaAs, GaAs; bottom solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath top solar cell having a width larger than metallisation contact so that it can receive light that passes through top cell, and constructed of AlGaAs or GaAs; a patterned tunnel junction fixed between top and bottom solar cell to electrically and optically connect top and bottom solar cells in series, it is located directly beneath metallisation grid and has a width smaller than solar cells, and approx. equal to width of metallisation contact. Patterned tunnel junction composed of top n-type layer GaAs, and bottom p-type layer GaAs, the 2 layers having a band gap energy that approx. matches that of top and bottom solar cells so that the tunnel junction does not block light from reaching bottom solar cell when incident solar light is not normal to metallisation grid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell with patterned inter cell ohmic connection as tunnel junction to connect top and bottom solar cells in electrical and optical contact. By confining patterned area to shadowed areas tunnel junction is set free from requirement that it be transparent and have band gaps greater than or equal to those of top solar cell.
The method is carried out by controlling the plant rotor rotation frequency, rotation frequency signal, pulses summing during given time interval and when signal pulses sum coincides with given value the plant operation command is worked out. The reliability is increased since the input pulses are summed periodically with time interval between periods taken from it is smaller or equal to (f power negative 1) - tau, where f is the signal pulses frequency, and tau is the summing element calculation time.    The unit has a frequency transformer (1) summing recorder (3), timer (6) and setting block (5). The reliaiblity is increased since the unit is provided signal pulse operator (2), mono-stable (7) and stator revs auxiliary sensor (8) the latter through mono-stable is connected to the frequency transformer connected to the operator (2) which is connected to summator and the mono-vibrator.    USE -   The method and the unit are used for power plant operation control. Bul.5/7.2.89
Formation of polycrystalline silicon film comprises forming film by applying silicon powder onto base, and applying energy beam. Silicon powder of 100 micron - 0.1 micron particle size is used.    Pref polycrystalline silicon powder of 10 micron average particle size, and including boron as impurity by 10 power 18 per 1 cc is used as silicon powder. Powder is washed by hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, and water, and dispersed into organic solvent. Then silicon powder is applied onto glass base by spray, and solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure. Argon ion laser beam of 514 nm wavelength is applied onto the film while heating the base at 400 deg C by lamp heater. Dia of laser beam is 2mm, and laser beam is scanned onto the film at 5 cm/sec, and polycrystalline silicon film of 10 cm square can be obtd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   High film forming speed can be obtd. Film can be formed at 100 A/Sec or more.
A closed duct connects an upstream location of the flowing liquid to a downstream location so that the liquid flows through the duct from the upstream to the downstream location. A flexible membrane in the duct forms a liquid/fluid interface, and over this membrane, the liquid flows in passing through the duct to displace the membrane and fluid to the underside of same. By a conversion device, the displacement of the fluid can be used to provide energy in a more readily useable form.    The duct is located above the level of the flowing liquid so that the liquid is drawn by syphonic action which maintains the flow of liquid through the duct.    ADVANTAGE -   Highly efficient power transfer.
The simulation operates by connecting the turbo-alternator to a supply network (15) at a stable frequency, and proceeds by constantly measuring electric power delivered to the general network by the turbo-alternator (1,3) while injecting a computed measuring signal to the regulation system (6) of the turbine, in substitution for the normal control. The signal is determined by the computer (21) from the frequency vs power characteristic of the simulated stand-alone network.    The proportional, derivative, and integral components of the regulation are adjusted systematically by the computer so as to search out the limits of frequency stability of the system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Simulates the response to major load m changes of stand-alone hydro-electric supply system, in which individual loads are major proportion of capacity, giving accurate results through modelling on actual plant rather than by mathematical or digital computation models.
Both or some of the emitters on the front surface of the semi-conductor wafer cover only a small fraction insteam of the whole of that surface. The carriers of current generated in the main around the front face do not have to pass through the whole thickness of the cell base for it to be collected on the rear face. The emitters can also be situated on both sides of the cell.
The method is used to make solar cells by producing a pn-junction in a polycrystalline semiconductor water doped with impurities. The differently-doped regions have connection contacts. The water is placed in a horizontal position and before doping takes place, heat is applied uniformly over the top surface and above the melting point of the semiconductor material.    The heating penetrates to a depth that exceeds the depth of the pn-junction by the diffusion length of the charge carriers in the semiconductor material. The supply of heat to the surface after melting is homogeneously reduced under slight mechanical stress to re-solidify the semiconductor material. The method is accomplished with the help of a reflective irradiation oven.    ADVANTAGE -   High efficiency cells produced even from poor-quality polycrystalline material.
The method fans a groove on a surface of a blade. The groove is formed at a given length and depth in order to accommodate a number of components. The groove is then filled with a ceramic material so that the top of the groove is aligned with the top surface of the structure. The entire structure is then coated with a first layer of a ceramic material which layer also covers the filled groove. Suitable conductors are then placed on the coated surface so that they can span and overlie the groove. The structure is then coated with a second layer of ceramic material and the coating covers the conductors thereby serving to embed the conductors between the first and second layers. A second groove is then formed in the first and second layers which second groove overlies the first groove and which extends into the first groove. Then ceramic material from the second layer is removed on each side of the second groove to expose the separated end surfaces of the conductors.    The pressure transducer which is an integrated circuit is then placed into the second groove, and one now bonds the component terminals of the pressure transducer to the exposed conductor surfaces.    In this manner both the wires leading from the transducer and the transducer itself are beneath the surface of the structure and do not interfere with the surface contours of the structure while further allowing testing of the same in all operating environments.    USE -   For gas, steam or water turbine.
The electrode is coated with a polymer or a clay film comprising at least one redox agent. The electrode is used by immersing it together with a reference electrode in electrolytic soln., and visible light irradiating while applying a voltage of -0.7 - +1.0 V (vs.NHE) to electrolyse the soln.    Pref. the coating film comprises dispersed Mn complexes. The electrode is coated with a polyanion polymer film or a clay film comprising dispersed Ru complexes. The electrolysis is performed using multiple electrolytic cells connected in series, and more pref., the semiconductor electrodes are exposed so light can be radiated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrode is stable for a longer time. Thus, a long life electrolytic appts., photocell, or energy storage appts. can be mfd.
(A) A silicon soln., for silicon thin film deposition, contains as solvent a mixt. of gold and one or more metals which either have melting points below the deposition temp. or form, with the gold, an eutectic with an eutectic temp. below the deposition temp.    Suitable metals are Al, Bi, Cd, Ga, Hg, In, Pb, Sb, Sn, Tl, Zn, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd and Pt.    (B) A silicon thin film coating process comprises dissolving silicon in a metallic solvent and then pptd. the silicon from soln. within a deposition temp. range to deposit a silicon film, the solvent comprising a first metal (or mixt. or alloy), which forms a low temp. eutectic with silicon, and a second metal (or mixt.) which either has a melting point below the deposition temp. range or forms, with the first metal, an eutectic with an eutectic temp. below the deposition temp. range. (C) Also claimed are (i) silicon thin film coating processes using the silicon soln. (A); (ii) silicon thin films produced by the processes; and (iii) a material coated with the silicon thin film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The soln, is useful in the mfr. of solar cells and other electronic applications. Addn. of the second metal(s) to the first metal (An) reduces silicon solubility so that film formation rate is more easily controlled, leading to improved film quality and redn. in inclusions.
The water turbine (1) and the generator (2) are connected to each other by a shaft (3). The thus combined unit is supported by a floating bridge (4) located in a flowing water course so that the turbine is within a whirlpool (7). The generator feeds electricity to a user point (9) via a cable (8). The floating bridge has to be maintained above the whirlpool, and this is done by means of land-fastened lines (10, 11) or by a line (12) fastened to the bed of the water course. Pref. also the bridge should be attached to the bottom or to the water edge so that it can follow variations in water level.    A further option is for the bridge to be supported yby columns arranged outside the central part of the whirlpool where the turbine wheel works. The whirlpool is created by a first unit located upstream of the turbine which conducts water flow (6) to a second unit (14) so shaped that it turns the current around the turbine wheel, causing the water to flow upwards.    ADVANTAGE -   Is portable, can be positioned in flowing water courses, and provides electricity to temporary building locations.
Laminate is composed of a heat resistant plastics film, a ceramic thin film, and a metal oxide layer.    Pref. the ceramic is SiO2, TiO2, SnO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, ZnO, Ta2O5, MgO, BeO, CaO, SrO, BaO, NiO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Y2O3, Bi2O3, ThO2, Mn3O4, MgAl2O4, MgSiO or their composite oxide. Heat resistant plastic films include polyimide, polyester, PTFE etc. Metal oxides include Sn oxide, In oxide, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For liq. crystals, display elements, touch panels, solar cells, etc. The laminate has improved adhesion of the metal oxide to the base, and abrasion resistance The laminate prepd. by coating and heat-decomposition method, which is inexpensive.
The cell, pref. of gallium arsenide, consists of a semi-conductor substrate, on which grow the layers of the active device, basically consisting of an emitter layer and a base layer. The electrical contact to the emitter is achieved over the back face of the substrate, which is connected to the emitter by means of conduction channels based on the same material and type of conductivity as the connecting regions between the channels. The channels traverse the base region. Electrical contact to the base layer is achieved frontally, covering only a very small fraction of the frontal surface of the cell.
The power plant uses a pair of vertical U-shaped guide rails, together providing an endless circulation path, contained within an underwater tank, around which tubular elements are displaced. Each of these elements is closed at the forward end and open at the rear, with an equidistant spacing maintained between them.    A cooperating heavy piston slides within each element, with the latter coupled together via a closed air line. Two chains at the sides of the guide rails allow the force of the water acting on the tubular elements to be used to drive an electrical generator.    ADVANTAGE -   High efficiency for providing emergency energy supply etc.
In prodn. of insulator coated semiconductor micro particles, semiconductor micro particles are dispersed in a treatment liq. contg. a metal ion and fluorine ion, where a metal oxide is oversaturated, so that the metal oxide coat is precipitated on the surface of the micro particles.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The produced insulator coated semiconductor micro particles maintain monodispersion condition of the micro particles and yet highly pure insulator membranes are homogeneously precipitated from the liq. phase on the micro particles, their photocatalytic activity can be greatly lowered. By the use of the produced insulator coated semiconductor micro particles, the paint for buildings or cars as well as the light controlling glass (the micro particles are used as the micro particle suspension) show improved life span. When it is used for cosmetic products, it will decrease the skin troubles.
The turbine consists of rotor discs (1) mounted on a mainshaft and separated by spacers also keyed to the main shaft. The rotor discs have pivoted vanes (2) which are coupled as pairs opposite each other. The rotor disc is rotated through the sealing shroud (4) and the pivoted vane folded into its recess, causing the opposite pivoted vane to be moved out into the flow stream by the action of the tension linkage.    The opposite pivoted vane moves across the flow stream and comes to rest upon the next rotor disc. The bearing surfaces for the pivoted vane is the mainshaft spacer, the adjacent rotor disc and pivoted vane's own bearings. The angle between the pivoted vane and its sealing surfaces is such as to prevent jamming under pressure.    USE -   Composite materials turbine, operating lower header of water at low speeds to generate electric power for rural area or for emergency power in isolated areas.
The solar cell module has a strip pattern (3) applied to the structured base electrode (2) carried by the glass substrate (1) before the thick-film layer (4) using a screen printing process. The thick-film layer (4) is selectively partitioned after removal of the strip pattern (3) via a lift-off technique and subsequent application of the cover electrode (6).    Pref. the thick-film layer (4) comprises a polycrystalline silicon, the base electrode (2) comprising a metallic electrode and the cover electrode (6) comprising a transparent electrode.    USE -   For mfr. of tandem solar cell with reduced current losses.
Initially the flanges (3) openings are opened. The blades turning mechanism is then placed in position. The mechanism has levers (5). The journals (4) are placed in bush (1) and the journals are connected to the levers by pins. The blades (2) are hung and bolts are fitted in fastening openings, and the blades are centralised prior to tightening. Blades are placed in zero position and the levers are fixed by crosspiece (7). The blades positioning angle is checked and corrected and the blades are fixed. The journals and the flanges have openings for pins.    USE -   The method is used for hydro-turbine wheel turning blades assembly. Bul.8/28.2.89.
The energy plant has a container (B) for holding the fluid and allowing it to be fed to a turbine for driving the latter. The fluid flows from the turbine (R) to one or more further containers at a lower level.    Pref. a number of containers (B) are coupled together to provide a container system, with openings in the containers (B) allowing the fluid to flow in different directions, under control of taps, valves and baffle plates (V1-V7, K1, K2).    ADVANTAGE -   Allows simple adaption to different applications.
The floating water turbine consists of a cylinder with attached helical blades floating in a flowing river or stream. The up stream end, or front end, is anchored to a relatively fixed location, such as a point on a stream bank, an isolated moorage pier or an anchored barge. The power derived from the floating turbine is either from the lower end by a flexible drive or from the front end by a flexible drive cable that can either run through the centre of a hollow ball jointed mooring connection or the flexible drive can be a rotating anchoring cable that is secured to the anchorage: either way the floating water turbine is held in a stable longitudinal location in the flowing stream.    The floating characteristic of the turbine is provided by either making the turbine and helical blades of wood or other buoyant material, in this case the core cylinder will only be large enough to provide strength to the turbine; or being made of a nonbuoyant material, in this case the core cylinder will be closed on the ends and be large enough to provide buoyancy to support the whole turbine on the surface of the water, to this cylinder the helical blades are attached.    USE -   /ADVNATAGE - Wave motion or river tidal system. Low cost.
Appts. comprises a layered structure of: a transmissive conductor (32); a photoactive semiconductor (33); and electrode (34); an insulator (35) over the face and side surfaces of the electrode; and a further electrode (36) in contact with the conductor and the semiconductor.    A pref. device comprises a panel including the transmissive conductor (32) as a layer and a spaced set of segmented semiconductor and electrode structures, with the top electrode layer (36) an overall layer in contact with the transmissive conductor and the semiconductor segments.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a photovoltaic device, esp. a solar panel (claimed) for high current, low voltage applications, e.g. water electrolysis to produce H2 for fuel cells. Design maximises the active area for a given panel size and avoids the need for registration of successive scribes of the layer used in forming a panel.
The photovoltaic cell comprises a substrate (11), a transparent electrode (12) formed and layered on the substrate (11) and an amorphous semiconductor layer (13) formed and layered on the transparent electrode (12). A backside electrode is formed and layered on the semiconductor layer (13) at the location opposite to the transparent electrode (12) in the manner of sandwiching the amorphous semiconductor layer (13). A positive output terminal (12a) extends from the transparent electrode (12) and a negative output terminal (12b) is separated from the transparent electrode (12).    The transparent electrode (12), the amorphous semiconductor layer (13) and the backside electrode (14) form a generator areas. Output terminals (12a,14a) are provided on the transparent electrode (12) and the backside electrode (14) for supplying an output from the photovoltaic cell. A protection film (15) covers the transparent electrode (12), the amorphous semiconductor layer (13) and the backside electrode (14) except output terminals (12a,14a). A thermosetting polymer conductive layer (16) is formed on each output terminal (12a,14a) and has lead wires (18) soldered there.    ADVANTAGE -   Connection of improved strength and durability.
The dimension indicator has a magnet having two poles for producing a static field of magnetic flux in a region traversed by the moving part. A coil inductively coupled to the region produces a signal from the magnetic field of eddy current in the moving part. The signal has at least two characteristics the first being amplitude which varies with the speed of the moving part. A circuit connected to the coil for derives measurements of the amplitude of the signal.    A second circuit connected to the coil derives measurements of the second characteristic of the signal. A computing unit to coupled the two circuits is used for calculating a value from the measurements of amplitude and the second characteristic.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For turbomachinery blade condition monitoring. Suitable for long term monitoring, accurate.
(GB2216204-B)      A disc brake assembly comprising a disc for rotation together with a wheel of a vehicle, a mounting member for fixing to a stationary member of the vehicle, arms of the mounting member each having a groove, a brake pad, a brake pad backing plate, an ear projecting from each end of the backing plate into a respective one of the grooves and slidably supported on the arms in the direction parallel to the disc axis, the backing plate having end surfaces radial with respect to the disc, and the mounting member having torque resisting surfaces facing the end surfaces of the backing plate radially inwardly of the ears.
At least two cylinders (2,2) are provided having parallel axes and disposed apart and athwart the current flowing in the river. The apparatus also includes a continuous belt (4), encircling the cylinders having at least one vane (6), rotateable about an axis perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow.    Each vane is positioned obliquely with respect to the current and via a coupling to at least one cylinder power is transmitted from the fluid flow through rotation of the cylinder. The or each vane are mounted on the belt and pivoted. A hydraulic accumulator is supplied by a piston driven by the fluid flow driven apparatus by a crank.    ADVANTAGE -   Appts. is robust and easy to maintain.
The rotor of a hydraulic turbine is driven by jets from eight high pressure nozzles (261 to 268) supplied via a pipe (89) from the delivery pipe (29) of a double multitubed accumulator arrangement. Each tube of each accumulator contains a piston (7) separating air in the upper part of the accumulator tube, from liquid in the lower part. Air is supplied to or removed from the upper parts of the accumulators by a vacuum pump (78) and forced draught fan (77) driven by an electric motor (81), via pipes (76, 79, 201).    Liquid is supplied to the lower parts of the accumulators by a pump (87), drawing liquid from a tank (82) having baffles (100 to 105) and supplying liquid via a pipe (122). Liquid drained from the turbine is fed back to the tank (82) via a pipe (85).    ADVANTAGE -   Ensures maximum hydraulic pressure on as many blades as possible.
Complete charge collection is achieved with Si (Li) detectors by determination of the striation spacing and then removing a silicon layer by etching, the novelty being that the layer removal thickness corresponds to 0.5 x n x S (n = a whole number factor; S = striation spacings).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The Si (Li) detectors are used for x-ray fluorescence analysis in the low energy region of upto 1keV and for particle radiation spectrometry. About 50% increased yield at the detectors is achieved.
A water elevator extends upwardly of outlet of a reservoir to above ground level. Elevator includes cylindrical shaft having open ends (24) and (26). End (26) includes outlet ( (30) from which spout (32) extends. Spout (32) of elevator (20) is positioned over elevated tank (62). A platform (34) is positioned within shaft (22) and slidably engages the shafts inner wall (25). Seal are positioned along the outer edge of platform (34) to guard against leakage. Platform (34) defines a central opening (36) preferably having a downwardly tapered side wall (37). A buoyant valve or plunger (38) with stem (39) is positioned within opening (36) of platform (34) and has a converging peripheral wall which corresponds with opening (36).    Elevator (20) further includes a balloon (40) connected via cable (42) to platform (34). Cable (34) is threaded through pulley (44) which is supported by pulley support (46) and is further threaded through pulley (48) which is supported by elevated pulley support (50). Balloon (40) includes an inlet/outlet (52) to which one end of a flexible hose (54) is connected. The other end of hose (54) is connected to a pump (56) which is connected via tube (58) to a buoyant gas (preferably helium) storage tank (60).    ADVANTAGE -   Self-contained structure.
Glass encapsulation of voltaic solar cell arrays having means for minimizing voltage-plasma interaction effects in a space environment comprise (a) several solar cells; (b) a substrate having integral cell supports formed on an inner surface of the substrate for supporting the solar cells above the surface; (c) a substrate having integral support ridges for holding the solar cells in non-bonded contact with the integral cell supports of the substrate when the substrate is bonded to the substrate to form an enclosed cell area that encloses the solar cells; (d) means for providing electrical connection of the solar cells from the enclosed cell area to an external element; and (e) a conductive grid network formed on the outer surfaces of the substrate and the substrate for providing a zero-potential ground plane.    ADVANTAGE -   High voltage levels should be generated directly at the solar array to minimise power conditioning losses, requiring protection of the solar array from the plasma.
On the hydro-generator rotor (1) there is insert (2) with support surface (3) resting on bearing (4) located in the oil container (10). Ring (6) is fixed with bolts to the ring surface of the insert. Due to the fact during machine operation the losses due to collar (5) friction heat the ring (6) only, whilst the thermal insulating insert (9) hinders the heating of insert (2) and avoids its thermal deformation, high reliability is achieved.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Hydrogenerator has advantage of excluding the mis-alignment of the bearing surface of the insert achieved by the use of an outer concentric ring fixed by bolts via thermal insulating insert. Bul.45/7.12.88.
An electron trappinq-photoluminescent material emits orange light when subjected to infra-red radiation. It consists of: (1) a base material comprising a mixt. of 60-80 wt.% strontium sulphide and 40-20 wt.% calcium sulphide, (2) a first dopant of 50-500 ppm samarium, and (3) a second dopant of 200-600 ppm europium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material may be used for infra-red sensinq, photography, or as a memory, by making use of its electron trapping characteristics. The material emits a higher intensity of visible light, when subjected to infrared radiation, than conventional photoluminescent materials. It has a deep enough electron trap to render it usable as an optical memory material.
(US4968354-A)      Thin film solar cell array with increased durability to high temps. and high humidity comprises: (1) a transparent insulating substrate with several unit solar cells connected in series arranged on it; each cell includes a transparent electrode, an amorphous Si layer with a junction structure and a printed rear electrode fromed of a baked first resin, contg. Ni particles or carbon particles as an electrical condutor,a nd mulled with an Si coupling agent.    The solar cell array is produced: (i) placing a tin oxide film on a glass substrate by electron beam evapn. or sputtering; (ii) patterning the tin oxide film to form sepd. transparent electrodes; (iii) forming an amorphous Si layer with a p-i-n junction structure on the electrodes; (iv) patterning the Si layer by photolithography such that one end of each pattern covers part of the corresp. space between adjacent transparent electrodes; and (v) applying and hardening further patterns of metal electrodes formed by printing using phenol resin contg. Ni particles as a filler, mulled with an Si coupling agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In addition to resistance to high temps. and humidities mentioned in the main claim, the cost is less for mfr.. (First major country equivalent to J01173763-A)
The solar cell array produces electromotive force in response to incident light to drive MOSFET gates for use as a semiconductor relay. The manufacture of a crystalline silicon semiconductor used as a solar cell for the semiconductor relay requires too many mask patterns and complicated processes. This involves difficulties in device integration and thin-film formation, resulting in an increase in the cost. The invention provides a solar cell where a great number of semiconductor cells of amorphous silcion are connected in series to drive MOSFEt gates.
A method of stabilising semiconductor devices with intraconnections comprises providing an electrode exposed through an overlying semiconductor layer, dipping the device into a colloidal soln. or well-stirred suspension of a metal hydroxide in water, and providing a further contact.    Also claimed is a device with intraconnected electrodes as above in which a first electrode is on a substrate and an amorphous semiconductor on the first electrode, metal hydroxide is adsorbed on part of the first electrode as above, and a second electrode extends into contact with the first at the electrode/hydroxide interface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of stabilising intraconnections and interfaces in sensitive electronic devices such as solar cells and ICs is provided. The cells are more resistance to thermal cycling and inter diffusion at semiconductor/metal contacts is reduced.
Solar cell has a 1st semiconductor layer composed of a single crystal grown from a seed single crystal, of controlled plane orientation, disposed on a less crystal nucleus-forming density area of a wafer and 2nd semiconductor layer formed on the 1st semiconductor layer having opposite conduction type.    USE -   For electronic appts..
A connector unit for solar cells is constructed as a two stage device with a base plate of a transparent material with a refractive index greater than 1.45. Solar energy falls on the topside of the plate and the concentrating arrangement is located on the underside.    The first stage has a pattern of glass or plastics material elements mechanically coupled to the second stage elements. Both stages are formed with parabolic side walls, with the end surfaces providing a mounting for the solar cells.    ADVANTAGE -   High concentration of solar energy.
Cell has a semiconductor layer with alternating wells of p- and n-conductivity. An insulating layer on the bottom surface is patterned to expose the surfaces of the wells. A conductive layer on the insulating layer includes a positive region contacting the p-conductivity wells and a negative regions contacting the n-conductivity wells. A positive bus and a negative bus are side-by-side beneath the conductive layer. The positive bus is beneath the negative region and the negative bus is beneath the positive regions.    The tips of interleaved fingers of the positive region contact the positive bus and those of the negative region contact the negative bus. There are means for connecting the p-conductivity wells not connected to the positive conductive region to the positive bus beneath the p-conductivity wells. Similarly n-conductivity wells are connected to the negative bus beneath them.    ADVANTAGE -   A greater proportion of the surface is used and the mounting structure is simpler and less expensive.
A solar cell panel comprises several solar cell matrices (10) fabricated from a single wafer of semiconductor material connected in parallel. Each solar cell matrix (10) contains several series connected solar cells (12) arranged in rows and columns as well as a single diode (50). The solar cells (12) are of the wrap through type having both contacts on the back surface.    The solar cells are glued onto a substrate (40) using an optically stable adhesive (42). Each solar cell matrix is typically the size of an ordinary solar cell, but instead of producing 0.5 volts it provides a much greater voltage determined by the number of cells connected in series and this number can be increased or decreased within the limits of physical size of the individual cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar Power Supplies. Is less vulnerable to damage than previous designs, it is simple and cost effective to manufacture, providing higher yields. Since each solar cell matrix is made from wafers, each matrix will be about size of a normal cell giving greater order for given density of cell.
A variable speed pumping system consists of a motor (2) driving a pump (4) with monitoring of guide vane position, hydraulic head, motor speed and output and controlled by control units (22,23, 24,18) which allow normal control of the system but which are so designed that if the pump approaches the 'hump' characteristic caused by partial fluid reverse flow the motor speed and output will be forcibly increased so preventing it falling into the 'hump' characteristic.    The system also does not allow operation in the 'hump' position even with 'hammering' associated with other hydraulic apparatus upstream or downstream of the system.    ADVANTAGE -   Stable and reliable system operation with no 'hammering'.
The panel consists of a large number of solar cells embedded in thin layers of transparent insulating material with a single sheet of reflective foil on the back of the panel. The panel is divided into groups of cells. Within each group, the cells are linked together in series to provide the required potential, while the groups are connected in parallel to a flexible flat output cable.    Each cell has copper connection strips, which are either soldered onto the rear side of a neighbouring cell or is soldered to positive or negative terminals. The insulation of the flexible cable is stripped away at precise intervals which coincide with the connection holes through the rear foil.    ADVANTAGE -   Panel has minimal thickness and cable exerts minimal tension on panel.
A number of semiconductor devices are provided on a substrate (11). Each device has a penetrating terminal (17') extending from a conductive layer (12) through a semiconductor material layer (13) where it is in electrical contact with a conductive interconnection layer (18',19') formed across intervening material in a separating space between adjacent semiconductor devices to electrically contact the semiconductor material layer of the adjacent device. The penetrating terminal is spaced apart from such separating spaces.    A device is formed, electrically interconnected to the next device, from a semiconductor material layer supported on a conductive layer on a substrate by dividing these two layers to form a number of semiconductor devices, forming an electrical insulating material in separating spaces provided by such dividing, and forming a penetrating terminal in each device through the semiconductor material layerto the conductive layer on the substrate.
A novel solar cell comprises (a) a solar cell wafer (1) forming a photoelectric element; (b) at least one adhesive convex part (6) selectively provided on the wafer; (c) an adhesive layer (3) applied to the wafer to embed the convex part (6); and (d) a transparent plate (2) provided on the adhesive layer (3), the plate (2) and the water (1) being bonded together by the adhesive layer (3).    Processes for prodn. of the solar cell are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solar cell may be used in artificial satellites. It has a thick uniform adhesive layer bonding the transparent plate (e.g. a glass cover plate) to the wafer so that the cell has increased reliability in service and peeling of teh adhesive layer form the wafer is prevented.
The start/stop system has an air duct (4) from the siphon water intake (3) connected to the outside atmosphere and a buffer chamber (5) on top of the working chamber (2) containing a spring-loaded bell (7), which is linked by a tube (8) to the intake (3). The air duct (4) has a two-position slide-valve (9) and the turbine shaft has a centrifugal governor (11) which is connected by one arm to the bell (7) and by the other to a slide-valve piston (14). The active nozzle (16) of the water/air ejector (15) is connected by a valve (17) to chamber (2) and passive nozzle (18) is connected by a vacuum tube (19) to the slide-valve (9). A vacuum in the intake (3) causes it to fill with water, which turns the turbine (1). The release of the vacuum allows the water level to drop and the turbine stops.    ADVANTAGE -   Design simplicity. Bul.30/15.8.88.
The generator uses 2 generation plants with interfitting containers, the inner containers moved up and down within the outer container in response to the water flow using a contact system providing proximity pulses. An electronically controlled hydraulic system has a battery generated electric motor, a hydraulic pumps as oil reservoir and a magnetic valve.    The generator has respective drive systems operated by the reciprocation of the inner containers within the outer containers, with a common electrical output for the generated electricity obtained from the associated generator sets.    USE -   For generation of electrical energy from water inertia.
Reference signals from the generator (8) begin to pass to the counter (4) where they are integrated. A logic zero is then set across decoder (7) to set a logic one across the Q-output of the flip-flop (5). The switching winding of relay (10) is disconnected from the null bus and the system set in the initial state. On setting the unit to the rotation frequency, signals from the tachometric sensor (2), converted by monostable (3) to standard pulses, pass to the reset input of (4). On increasing the rotation frequency the time intervals, between signals taken form the output of monostable (3), reduce such that the iintegration of the reference pulses does not reach the established vlaue. On a coincidence state with respect to the integration results, both flip-flops (5,6) are set and the relay
(JP93033834-B)      Prodn. of thin film type solar cell comprises laminating a 1st electrode layer, amorphous semiconductor layer and 2nd electrode layer in the form of strips on an insulative base, and ultrasonically forming deep grooves into surface of 2nd electrode layer so that they reach the surface of the base.    USE -   For power sources. (J01103881-A)
The liquid flow control comprises two chambers, each chamber having a port opening for liquid flow into and out of the chamber. A pivoted gate valve is positioned to control liquid flow alternately into and out of the chambers so that whilst liquid flows into the first chamber liquid flows out of the second chamber and vice versa. The chambers have a shape in horizontal section and locations relative to the gate valve so as to generate a swirling flow, in the region of the respective ports, merges smoothly with the flow of liquid past the gate valve.    The shape in horizontal sectin and locations relative to the gate valve of the chambers, and the shape of the gate valve are such that the general direction of flow of liquid flowing into or out of a chamber past the gate valve is tangential to the flow line of the swirling liquid within the chamber at its periphery.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimal loss of both kinetic energy and inertia.
The system includes a proportional circuit (13) and a differentiation circuit (16) in addition to an integration circuit (12). When an object is controlled by switching from the first control circuit to the second control circuit, an error signal between a target signal and a feedback signal is first applied to the integration circuit (12) of the second control circuit.    After the lapse of predetermined time, the error signal is applied to the proportional circuit (13) and the differentiation circuit (16) of the second control circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For hydroelectric plant governor. Jumping phenomenon is prevented.
The turbine arrangement has at least one freely rotating water wheel (1) undershot driven by overflowing water, which is arranged completely over the water race (8) and has trough shaped blades (4), the dimensions of which are large compared to the radial dimensions. The water wheel (1) has a lightweight structure consisting of light as well as solid material and a hollow shaft (3) carrying the blades.    The distance of the start of the drop of the dam step (2) from the water wheel (1) or its blades (4) and/or the drop height of the dam step (2) is adjustable by setting appts (9), so that the complete width of overflow water flowing over the length of the water wheel (1) drops direct on to the wheel blades or paddles. The water wheel has a min. of two blades and a max. of five blades.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Water turbine for installation at dam step. Simple, cost effective, gives optimum energy yield. Easily installed at dam step.
A sensor assembly for use in gas analysis has several (nine) individual detectors which have a different sensitivity sprectrum for various gases. Each of them has a sensitivity which differs from zero for different gases. An identification matrix supplies from the total of the individual signals the proper value for the different gases. External factors can be used to alter the sensitivities of each individual detector as a function of time.    ADVANTAGE -   Such an assembly of detectors has a wider sensitivity spectrum.
Amorphous photoelectric converting device is formed by placing one on top of the other a series of photoelectric elements each comprising a thin film of p-i-n structure. The p-type layer and n-type layer of adjacent elements are made of microcrystalline silicon so that good ohmic contact is established while the p-type layer of microcrystalline silicon contg. boron in an amt. sufficient to neutralize the donor atoms with diffuse from the adjacent n-type layer, when the device is left to stand at high temps.    The concn. of boron ranges from 3 x 10 power 20 to 2 x 10 power 21 atoms cm(-3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cells and photosensors. Efficiency is retained despite exposure to heat over long periods of time. (First major country equivalent to J01076778-A)
Power generator consists of a rotor (1) with vanes (2) on a shaft (3) and a generator unit (4) with a circular stator (5) with a winding (6) and a spiral auger (7) on the shaft (3). The stator is made from a non-magnetic material and has an inner chamber (9) filled with a ferromagnetic fluid and containing the auger (7); the stator also has a magnetising winding (9), a metal plate (10) and a heating coil (11) to improve the viscosity of the ferromagnetic fluid. The generation of electrical power from a magnetised ferromagnetic fluid obviates the need for a magnetic circuit made from leaves of transformer steel.    ADVANTAGE -   Producing electrical power. Claims design simplicity. Bul.39/23.10.88.
A cycloconverter (6) converts AC from a power system (4,8) into AC having a given frequency. An AC exciting generator-motor (2) has its stator connected to the power system and its rotor connected to the cycloconverter and also has its rotor shaft mechanically coupled to a pump turbine (1). A circuit breaker (3) is provided between the AC power system and the generator-motor.    An arrangement (11-13, 100, 103-109) is provided for controlling the rotation speed of the motor such that it turns slowly when pumping is to be stopped. Another controller (14, 108, 109) decreases teh excitation effected by the cycloconverter when the rotation of the motor reaches a minimum value. A circuit breaker controller (11,12,100,101) turns off the circuit breaker when the power supplied to the motor becomes zero.    ADVANTAGE -   Pump is stopped without unsuitable reverse operation, extending life of turbine.
The water-powered electricity generating apparatus comprises a central plate form having several electricity-generating devices. A water wheel is coaxially aligned with and adjacent to the central platform, and has several blades. Several stops are movable between a position where contact with the blades is possible to a position where contact with the blades is not possible.    A drive gear is fixedly attached to the water wheel; and downwardly-facing gear teeth are mounted on the drive gear for facilitating the removal of the water wheel from the water in the upward direction.
Each pulse signal drop-out detector is connected to a disjunction gate and a summator. Each summator is designed as imbalanced and saturating providing practically any pulse signal distribution along the time axis but also obtaining the odd conversion coeffts. The detector is in the form of a full-wave rectifier with capacitive coupling and the disjunctive gate is in the form of a two-winding transformer, whose prim. winding has tap.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In electrical engineering, for setting operational mode of an hydroaggregat. Increased sensitivity and reliability during monitoring rev. rate using three phase sync. generator. Bul.38/15.10.88.
The circuit comprises a first resistive element between a control electrode and a first transistor output electrode, the latter forming the emitter, or source, of the first transistor. Its collector, or drain is coupled to a second output electrode. A second resistive element is incorporated between the control electrode and the second output electrode.    To the second resistive element is in parallel a series-connection of photovoltaic elements. To the first transistor is coupled a second one, which is blocked when the first transistor is conductive. At the control electrode, the second transistor is coupled to the output electrode, forming the collector, or drain, of the first transistor. The first resistive element is of rectifier type.    ADVANTAGE -   Reliable mfr., due to formation of two transistors on common substrate.
The unit includes a blade spiraling about a major axis and angling away. The blade has an end along the axis and a second end opposite the first end. A shaft extending along major axis is connected to the blade. At least one universal joint is connected to the shaft and gears are associated with the universal joint for magnifying the rotational movement of the shaft.    A generator is provided such that rotation of the blade is communicated to shaft which causes rotation of universal joint and gears. The rotation is then communicated to generator and converted to usable energy.    ADVANTAGE -   Inexpensive to mfr., effective to use and easy to move.
(US4936924-A)      In a method of mfr. of a thin-film solar battery, photoelectric power generating elements, each having junction and back-electrodes a semiconductor layer and a light-permeable electrode are formed on a light-permeable substrate. A laser beam is irradiated from the substrate side on to the junction electrode of one of the elements and the light-permeable electrode of the adjacent element, coagulating the melt to connect the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Back electrode can be patterned without adverse effects to the photovoltaic characteristics of the semiconductor layer. @(12pp)
Two test probes (16a,b) are provided in a draft tube downstream of a kaplan type water turbine wheel both on the same level and at the same distance from the centre of the draft centre of the draft tube. The probes are disc shaped and consist of a symmetrical wing profile with two measuring spots on each side of the profile.    The chambers are connected, by thin plastic tubes brought out of the draft tube, to one differential pressure transmitter each. Outputs are digitised and a micro-processor is used to calculate the pressure differences each side of the centre-line (22) and produce an output signal which is used to adjust the pitch of the guide vanes (14) to give minimum rotational flow downstream of the turbine.    ADVANTAGE -   Facilitates obtaining maximum efficiency from water turbines.
On a large area substrate (1), pref. glass or ceramic, a conductive layer (2) is formed, e.g. a reflecting metal-, graphite- or transparent oxide-layer, e.g. doped Sn-oxide.    In the last case pref. a reflecting metal layer is deposited on the underside of the substrate. A polycrystalline p-Si layer with a grain size of 200-500 microns and 20-100, pref. 50 microns thick is deposited. A pn-junction is formed in this layer, pref. by P-implantation or P-diffusion. Parallel grooves, pref. 0.5 cm wide, are cut in the poly Si layer and the conductive layer at regular distances of 1-2 cm down the entire width of the susbtrate, pref. using milling, laser scribing or etching with a photoresist masking layer.    The grooves are filled with an electrical insulator (6), pref. a resin. Contact holes (7) are formed in the Si-strips (3) to make the back-electrode (2) accessible.    Using screen-printing, a metallic contact layer (8, 9) is formed on the surface of the Si-strips connecting with the back electrode of an adjacent strip. The top contact consists pref. of at least one stripe, running parallel (9) to the groove and one running at a right angle (8) to this. The last one makes the series-connection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell uses less Si, and, by using a reflecting back electrode allows substantial absorption of reflected radiation, or redn. in the Si-layer thickness. The cells are already series-connected, so elaborate processes to make this connection, as used in current cells, are no longer necessary. A large array is easy to implement and is capable of handling the large currents. The construction is used for the mfr. of solar cells for power applications.
On a substrate pref. glass, ceramic or plastic, parallel grooves with a rectangular shape are formed. In the bottom of these grooves an electrically conducting, reflective layer is formed, pref. by evapn. of CrNiPd-alloy. Then over the entire surface at 20-100 micron thick p-doped polySi layer with a grain size of at least 200 micron is deposited, pref. by CVD, sputtering etc. The layer surface ia made level with that of the walls, pref. 0.5 cm wide, left between the grooves, using polishing, etching or milling. N-type impurities, pref. P are implanted, diffused or coated on to form a pn-junction. Contact grooves are formed along one edge of the plySi strips. A metallic layer is applied by screen printing, forming a top surface electrode and connecting this with the bottom electrode of an adjacent strip.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cells do not require excessive metal contact areas, even when large areas are used. The cell efficiency is high and the Si layer thickness reduced by e.g. 80%, thereby reducing the cost, the reflecting layer allows thinner Si-layers to be used. The series connection is an integral part of the processing. The cells are used for high power supplies.
The power supply device is a self-floating generator comprising a water wheel (3) with paddles (2) all around it. This drives one or more generators via a transmission (4) or gear system. The device is moored on flowing water or is positioned such that water currents provide electrical energy.    The water wheel may be self-floating or not and there may be float stabilisers for the system. Several wheels may be provided and the number, form and size are freely selectable. Protection may be provided against flotsam. The device may be modified for use at waterfalls.
The hydromotive machine appts. comprises a bulkhead assembly (42) comprised of an array of water tubes (43) connected to each other with their longitudinal axes in parallel to provide the bulkhead (42) as a relatively light and strong, truss-like integral unit providing a number of water flow paths through it. Several submersible hydraulic electromotive machines (40), which may be generators and/or pumps are mounted on the bulkhead (42) assembly with runners of the machines disposed within respective water flow paths provided by the water tubes (43).    The appts. may include a trash screen (32) mounted on it and/or valves of water through it. It is installed in a hydroelectric power installation by assembling it at a site remote from the water course operating site, for example, at an elevated position above the water level, and moving the appts. or the bulkhead assembly, as a unit to a submerged, operating position within a water course or passageway.    USE -   Hydroelectric power installation and pump systems used for irrigation.
The generator-motor apparatus has a generator-motor (18) with an armature winding and a field winding, a rotor of which is mechanically coupled with a prime mover-load. A main transformer (12) is provided between one of the windings of the generator-motor and an electric power system. A synchronising breaker (16) connects the one winding of the generator-motor with the electric power system through the main transformer. An excitation circuit includes a frequency converter (34) for exciting the other winding of the generator-motor (18) and a converter transformer (30) connected to the frequency converter (34).    A power system breaker (14), is connected in series with the main transformer (12), between the electric power system (10) and the synchronising breaker (16). The excitation circuit is branched from a junction (28) between the synchronising breaker (16) and a series connection of the main transformer (12) and power system (14).    USE -   Esp. in pumped storage system.
The systems apparatus has a pump turbine (2)which exhibits an S-shaped characteristics in a turbine operation region and has variable guide vanes (11). A generator (1) has a frequency converter constructed to be driven by the pump turbine (2) and to hold a frequency of a generated electric power. This is equal to a frequency of an electric power system (4) in spite of the fact that a rotating speed (N) of the pump turbine (2) is changed in conformity with an operating state.    When the turbine operating point of the variable speed hydro-power plant is detected in the instable turbine operation region, the rotating speed (N) of the pump turbine (2) is lowered. The generators (1) primary winding (1a) is connected to the electric power system (4) through a secondary excitation control unit (3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Control system for variable speed hydro-power plant apparatus where stable and reliable turbine operation is guaranteed. Drip into S-shaped characteristics turbine operation region is avoided.
The power generation arrangement has one or more turbines (8) designed for unidirectional flow and mounted in a wall (7) which divides an enclosed space (4) into two areas (4a,4b). Adjustable sluices (9a,9b:10a,10b) are between the areas (4a,4b) and tidal water source (3) or basin (2) are arranged so that, irrespective of the tide direction, the sluices can be adjusted to cause water to flow only in said unidirection through the turbine (as represented by arrowed lines 11 and 12).    Pref. the space (4) is rectangular and enclosed by walls. The turbine wall (7) may be extended to divide the basin (2) into two sub-basins to enable prolonged power generation to occur.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Deep river estuaries. Reduced number of turbines need due to double use.
An area of open sea adjacent to the coast line where there is shallow water not exceeding approximately 15 metres for several km offshore and an exploitable tidal range of not less than approximately 5 metres is impounded by a main barrage to form a basin. A further area to one side of the main barrage (21) is impounded by a wall structure (22,23,24) to form a turbine pond. At least one electric-power generating turbine (25) is mounted in the wall structure or in a further dividing wall.    Pref. the opening through the barrage into the pond is provided with spaced wave-breakers. In another construction form the barrage comprises a series of adjoining sections and, when viewed in plan, in arch-shape being concave on the basin side. The sections are constructed from hollow caissons, e.g. of concrete, floated into position and set by filling with sand.
The power plant includes a hydraulic air compressor having a water intake in a stream of water at an upper level and a water outlet at a lower level in the stream. An air compression shaft is provided in the ground and communicates at its upper end with the intake, permitting the entrained air to be compressed by water moving downward in the shaft. An air separation and storage chamber in the ground communicates with a lower end of the shaft and allows air to bubble to the surface of the water and be trapped in the chamber above the water. A return shaft is provided for delivering water from the chamber to the water outlet in the water stream.    The plant also includes a turbine having a compressed air inlet, burner for heating the compressed air, an expansion chamber for receiving the heated compressed air, an exhaust air outlet downstream of the expansion chamber, and a rotary shaft carrying driven turbine blades. The blades are located in the expansion chamber for driving by hot gases expanding in the chamber. Device is provided for preventing water flow to the turbine in the event that water enters the air outlet fof the hydraulic air compressor. Heat exchanger is coupled between the turbine exhaust outlet and the air control for preheating compressed air entering the compressed air inlet of the turbine. The plant also includes generator coupled to the rotary turbine shaft.    ADVANTAGE -   Need for large dams, and land flooding or blockage of migratory fish and large capital cost are avoided.
The method includes the steps of running the turbine on-cam at, and using the governor to control the positions of the gates so as to maintain the turbine at, a predetermined set point power generation level. The on-cam values of particular operating parameters of the turbine are measured to determine whether the turbine is operating in a steady-state condition. When steady-state operation has been achieved the blades of the turbine are moved through a series of incremental off cam variations in pitch in both the flatter blade angle and steeper blade angle directions.    After making each incremental variation in the pitch of the blades, the governor is allowed to reposition the gates so as to return the power generation level of the turbine to the setpoint. The operation of the turbine is monitored to determine when it has returned to steady-state and then values of the particular operating parameters are measured at the new gate-blade operating point. The efficiency value corresponding to each of the measured operating points is computed and compared to identify a peak value.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids usual downtime.
The framework of the turbine installation has side wall, a base and an upper cover. The turbine is supported with its axis at right angles to water flow, by vertical supports. The water is guided onto the turbine blades by fixed plates, and flows out of the framework by other fixed plates.    The upper cover is attached to floatation containers, which raise and lower the turbine as the tide or river level rises and falls. The cover can move vertically while the base stays stationary, due to concertina -like sections in the side walls and in the lower guide plate. The concertina sections consist of flat plates and pivot rods.
The alternator (1) speed regulator regulates (3) the energy gathered by the turbine (2) and an adjustable electric power absorbing network (5) connected at the alternatoroutput, in parallel with the load (4) connected to the alternator. The controller detects a first difference between the power supplied by the water to the turbine and the power which would be expected to be provided from the set position of the regulator mechnaism, a second difference between the power supplied to the turbine and the electric power consumed. A comparator accepts the two differences and acts on the regulating mechanism in response to the larger.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides improved speed control of alternators driven by water turbines by monitoring input and output power.
A float is upwardly and downwardly responsive to the maximum differences between wave crests and troughs. A supporting bracket is mounted adjacent to the reciprocable drive shaft on the wave conversion appts. A locking cam is pivotally mounted on the bracket and arranged to engage with the drive shaft under the action of a spring return. This prevents relative motion of the drive shaft until a predetermined time.    Grooves which are uniformly coated with a resilient material, are cut into the surface of the locking cam to enhance frictional characteristics. An electrical solenoid pivotally linked with the cam, disengages the cam from the shaft when energised, allowing the drive shaft to move freely within the conversion apparatus.    ADVANTAGE -   Has quick-release lock mechanism. Requires power input only for release during movement of float, not for its retention at upper or lower level.
The electrical generating device is housed in a container called the gravity-motor which is totally submerged below the surface of the working fluid such as a liquid contained in a tank with a pressurised gaseous atmosphere gravity accelerating fluid chamber called the passage. An anchored, water-tight rotor chamber contains a rotor axle, rotor, and generator and a submersible centrifugal pump is located in the uppermost part of the passage whose discharge is directed vertically downward onto rotor vanes.    A valve is connected to the discharge side of the pump and an external electrical power source supplies the submersible centrifugal pump, air compressor, and generator. An opening in the bottom of the gravity-motor permits transmission of working fluid flowing through the gravity-motor to disperse into the main body of working fluid in the tank.
Embodiments are given for converting renewable energy sources to electricity. A boat is anchored on a flowing stream with paddle wheels and is driven by the stream driving an air compressor of special design supplying an air storage tank located on the stream bank driving turbo alternators supplying power as required. A second embodiment includes a double sleeved wave-pump compressing air to 600 psi and carried via an air line to the beach and stored underground till required to power turbo-alternators.    A third embodiment includes a tide trap, trapping air under a structure, compressing it by the rising tide and using it to power turbo-alternators. Correspondingly on a falling tide power is generated as the air replaces the water.    ADVANTAGE -   Appts. adornable with flowers.
Solar power concentrator has a frame (1), on which are mounted a reflector (2) and a guide element (3), mounting platform (4) able to move on the guide element, and a cable system to move the platform. There is an electric traction mechanism (5) with two output drums fixed on the platform, and an auxiliary electric mechanism (8) with output link, fitted on the frame on the reflector side. The guide element is vertical. It has a bush (9) sliding on it. The cable system has two branches (10,11), one with ends fixed on the bush and drums, and the other with one end on the frame, wound round the drum, and with the other end on the output link.    ADVANTAGE -   Easier to service. Bul.20/30.5.89
The two axis tracker is used to direct a solar reflector, heliostat, or dish antenna. An elevation drive ring is supported in a vertical orientation by dolly wheels rotatably attached to a base. The reflector is attached at two points along the circumference of the elevation drive ring. A reflector having a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the elevation drive ring is mounted to the elevation drive ring. A number of support members, such as cables, extend from the elevation drive ring to the periphery of the reflector.    Azimuth adjustment is provided by incorporating a horizontal turntable or drive ring as part of the base, or by pivoting the reflector within the elevation drive ring by adjusting the respective lengths of the support cables extending laterally from the elevation drive ring to the periphery of the reflector.
Solar concentrator comprises an aluminised plastic foil and a clear plastic foil which are connected together at their periphery, and along two inner circular lines to form, when blown up, two outer rings and a lentil shaped centre. Eyelets are provided on the outer seam to allow the concentrator to carry a tripod having e.g. a cooking pot at the concentrators focus. A fresnel lens can be used to further concentrate the output. The outer dia. is about 1500 mm and the other circles about 1350 and 1200 mm dia. The aluminium may be paint or foil on top of a palstic layer or between two clear plastic layers. The foil is transparent and heat resisting to greater than 100 deg.C. A stripe is provided to indicate when the inner circle is correctly inflated. The outer circles can be filled with air, sand, concrete or soil to stabilise the whole device.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cooking, generating electricity, pumping fluids, using as a disk or for transmitting or receiving signals from a satellite in emergencies. Simple construction, cheap to mfr. affordable by the poorest people and can save vegetation from being burned.
Producing steam from geothermal brine contg. dissolved toxic elements without pptn. of toxic solids comprises (a) removing geothermal brine consisting of water, non-condensable gases and toxic elements from an extn. well drilled into an underground aquifer; (b) removing non-condensable gases from the geothermal brine to produce non-condensable gas-free brine and maintaining the non-condensable gases separate from the non-condensable gas-free brine to prevent reaction therebetween the dissolved solids in the non-condensable gas-free brine; (c) flashing the non-condensable gas-free brine to produce steam and flashed brine; (d) introducing the flashed brine into an air-free handling system to prevent contact of air with the flashed brine; (e) condensing some of the steam into steam condensate; (f) contacting some of the steam condensate with air; (g) deaerating some of the condensate which has been contacted with air; and (h) combining at least some of the deaerated condensate with the flashed brine.    ADVANTAGE -   The isolation of non-aerated brine and deaerated condensate from aerated brine, the removal of non-condensable gases from the brine, and the washing of the sludge produced from the brine results in a non-toxic sludge in accordance with US government accepted standards.
Functional thin films, such as ferromagnetic metal film, superconductor film or solar battery thin film, are formed onto a moving long high polymer film substrate (6) between the uncoiling bobbin (7) and the coiler (2) using vapour source (5). The bobbin (7) is provided with a cooling shaft means (8).    ADVANTAGE -   Rather wider film thickness range is applicable for wider substrate thickness successfully.
The panel (1) includes a rectangular frame (5) supporting an array of solar cells (2). A connection casing (4) is attached to the shortest side of the frame. The casing includes a set of terminals (9), each provided with a contact strip (8), and an aperture (12) aligned with an opening (15) in the frame. A conductor (14) makes the connection between the solar cell and the metallic strip of the terminal, the corresponding aperture being subsequently covered with an insulating sealing material.    A cable (7) transports the generated electric current to the user. The casing is covered with a transparent lid which allows at any time viewing of the terminals inside.    ADVANTAGE -   Has compact structure with connection box placed on frame thus preventing shadowing rear surface. Has increased efficiency for similar number of solar cells.
A curved glass sheet substrate (21) for a solar cell has a transparent electroconductive film (22) formed on its concave surface.    Also claimed is a solar cell comprising the substrate (21), an a-Si layer on the electroconductive film, and a back electrode (26) on the Si layer. A solar cell-installed glass window for an automobile comprises the solar cell and a glass plate laminated on the a-Si side with an interlayer between them.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar panels (claimed) for e.g. sunroof windows in cars are provided, which are of pleasing appearance, free from dazzle and have visible light transmittance.
The arrangement uses the weight of an animal or human body to generate electricity by having a device incorporated in a shoe that converts potential energy into mechanical and is coupled to a second device that generates electricity used to charge a battery or to supply a load directly.    The battery can be easily replaced. The first device responds to the weavers normal movements when raising the feet for walking and running.    USE -   Reducing consumption of batteries.
The control system maximises the power supplied by an array of solar cells senses the current and voltage produced and multiplies these to determine the instantaneous power. The array is tilted slightly in a first direction and the effect on the instantaneous power is noted. If an increase in power was produced, a further movement in the same direction is executed; but if the first movement produced a reduction in power, a movement in the opposite direction is executed.    The process continues until no increase in power is obtained in either direction. Thereafter, the same process is carried out with respect to a second axis of the solar array.    ADVANTAGE -   Independent of sky brightness distribution.
Liq. metal thermoelectric converter (LMTEC), in which structural loads are compressive, comprises a hollow container (3a) for metal liq. and vapour, and an electrochemical cell, comprising a tube (4) within but not filling the container, closed at the bottom with its open top extending through the container, and a porous electrode (52) on its inner wall. The tube is such that only ionised metal vapour can pass into it, and there is also a means of conducting electrons from its outer wall to a load, and an internal bus rod (5) for conducting electrons from the load. The rod is electrically connected to the porous electrode so ionised metal vapour is neutralised, there is a condenser (10) connected to the tube to liquefy the metal, and a return of liq. metal to the container (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   LMTEC (claimed) with the high temp. high pressure working fluid on the outside, giving compressive structural loads, is provided. Also a series connection of cells is possible without shorting, and other working fluids may be used giving higher efficiencies at lower temps. Use of a remote condenser reduces thermal losses.
An ultra-high-efficiency tandem solar cell comprises an AlxGa1-xAs upper cell (12), an AlyGa1-yAs intermediate cell (14), and a CuInSe2 lower cell (18), with a lattice matching transition zone (16) attached to the intermediate cell above the lower cell.    Also claimed is a method of making a solar cell comprising forming a CLEFT buffer on a removable substrate on which is deposited upper and intermediate cells, transition zone, lower cell and a back contact (22). The substrate is separated from the layers, and the CLEFT buffer removed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An ultra-high-efficiency monolithic heteroepitaxial cell (claimed) having high specific power is provided. It is easy to mfr. and has good radiation resistance. It is esp. useful in spacecraft power systems.
The unit has a pool (1) water, an extraction column (2) placed above the pool and provided with air heating inlet manifold (3) in its lower part, a smoothly connected neck (4) and an outlet diffuser (5) with a deflector, a bladed air turbine (6) placed in the neck and provided with a vertical shaft (7) directed towards the pool. A directing apparatus (8) is placed under the turbine. The efficiency is increased when generating heat since the unit is additionally provided with a compressor (9) placed under the turbine and connected to the shaft.    An air-water heat exchanger (10) is placed above the compressor and is connected by a pressure and drainage pipelines (11,12) to the pump and the pool. The pool is provided with a tubular water heater (14). The manifold has a heat exchange made as double walled conical element (15) placed coaxially to the shaft and forms an annular air duct (16) with the manifold connected at one end to atmos and at other to directing apparatus. The conical element outer wall is transparent and the inner wall is light absorbing. The unit has gas expansion machine (20). The directing element is made as radial turning blades.    USE -   The unit is used to use wind and solar radiation power. Bul.7/23.2.89.
In the presence of waves the stabilisers (15,16) placed the pontoon (1) perpendicular to the waves movement direction. The pontoon oscillations by means of an elastic connection are transformed into electricity generators (2,14), drives pulleys (7) rotation. The one direction and even rotation of the pulleys is ensured by ratchets (4), reducers (5) and flywheels (6). The sail is made as louvres and increases the pontoon oscillation amplitude using the wind energy. The sail is provided with mechanism (13) which turns blades (12) to reduce the sail resistance to pontoon return to original position. The louvres are fixed on the pontoon with a displacement from the central axis in opposite direction to stabilisers.    USE -   The unit is used for wave and wind energy utilisation. Bul.7/23.2.89.
The photodetector has an opaque cylindrical body (2) fitted on lining (1) and has diaphragm central opening (3) in lid (4) and four rectangular photoreceivers. The photoreceivers photo-elements (5) are placed in pairs diametrically on the base (1) symmetrically to the detector optical axis (6). Opening (3) is cross-shaped. The distance between elements (5) in each pair does not exceed the element (5) width by more than the cross arm width.    USE -   The photodetector can be used in solar power generation for orientation. Bul.5/7.2.89.
The combined natural and centrifugal forces engages precisely in the centre of the plant in a direction towards the periphery. Centrifugal force is obtained by feeding start energy, and lacks static torque, but by an appropriate technical arrangement a force is produced with static torque, and is a turning moment.    For less energy supply, large centrifugal force are obtained which are directly proportional to the produced energy. The newly created energy exceeds considerably the fed energy which produces the centrifugal forces. By feed-back from the electrical generator of the power plant, drive energy is obtained to produce the centrifugal force.    (Provisional basic advised week 89/32)
The receiving reflector dish has a structure which is basically parabolic, with a detector situated at the focus of the paraboloid. The surface of the reflector is obtd. by mathematical deformation of the paraboloid, which initially has the formula y=axx, in planes passing through the axis of the paraboloid.    As a result of the deformation the focus becomes a multiple or extended focus having a trefoil shape. The reflector then adopts a basket-like shape with the aperture being elliptical.    USE -   Concn. of sun's rays to collect 'free' energy for heating, cooking or photovoltaic power generation.
The installation has tower divided into separate boxes (12), whose number is equal to the number of wind intake windows (4). The windows are fitted with rotary gates (5) connected by levers (6) to their wind speed transducers, located in their corresponding boxes. The transducer's wind intake and compensating elements (8,9) are made as sections of a single rotary plate (13), located on the opposite sides of its rotation axis and fitted with ribs (15) on the sides of the windows (4) and forming wind intake chambers (16).    ADVANTAGE -   Increased coefft. of wind power utilisation. Bul.17/7.5.89.
The eng ne has a rotary head (2) with wind wheel (3) and electrical generator (4), mounted on a tower (1). The generator (4) is provided with power output cable (5) which is passed through the tower (1). The head (2) is equipped with wind directing blade (6) attached to the head by rod (8). There is an elastic element (7), attached at one end to the head and at the other end to the tower. The rod (8) can be made spring strip and the element (7) - as a rubber sleeve enveloping the electric cable (5).    ADVANTAGE -   Improved operational reliability and electric power generation. Bul.17/7.5.89.
The installation has a pontoon (1) made of elastic material and attached to the bottom of water reservoir. Variable volume chambers (3) are positioned one above the other, submerged below the water level in the reservoir and connected to the pontoon (1). The chambers (3) are filled with working medium and connected to each other by a channel (4), which communicates with energy converter (5) which is also made of elastic material. An elastic canvas (6) is attached to the bottom of the lowest chamber (3) and its other side is attached to the anchoring device (2).    ADVANTAGE -   Improved overall efficiency of the installation. Bul.17/7.5.89.
The film comprising SnO2 as a main component, and 1-15 wt.% Sb, being formed by vapour deposition is made by melting and evaporating a bulk substance consisting of an evapn. source substance contg. SnO2 as a main component, and 1-15 wt.% Sb to which 0.001-0.5 wt.% at least one of Fe, Ni, and Cu were added, in vacuum vessel to form the film on a substrate.    A pellet is evapn. source substance for the -. prepn. of the film, and comprises 1-15 wt.% Sb, 0.01-0.5 wt.% at least one of Fe, Ni, and Cu, and balance SnO2 and incidental impurities.    USE -   For photoelectric conversion cells as light ray incident sides, having at least 80% transmittance for visible ray, (1-5) x 10 power (-4) ohm.cm resistivity, and 0.05-2 microns asperities.
A solar concentrator comprises a prism having radiation input, reflection and output faces. Located on the input and/or reflection faces(s) is a layer of material with a formed three-dimensional hologram of transmitting type in the case of the input face or of reflecting type in the case of the reflection face.    The structure of the hologram permits radiation input to the prism at an angle greater than the critical angle of total interal reflection to be reflected within the prism without being diffracted by the hologram.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For electricity generation. Decreases energy losses.
A cascade solar cell construction comprises: a metallisation contact which has a predetermined width and allows an output of electric current generated by cell, and which partially blocks light and produces a shadowed area beneath it; a top solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath metallisation contact, having a width larger than that of metallisation contact and constructed of materials selected from AlGaAs, GaAs; bottom solar cell fixed in a planar layer beneath top solar cell having a width larger than metallisation contact so that it can receive light that passes through top cell, and constructed of AlGaAs or GaAs; a patterned tunnel junction fixed between top and bottom solar cell to electrically and optically connect top and bottom solar cells in series, it is located directly beneath metallisation grid and has a width smaller than solar cells, and approx. equal to width of metallisation contact. Patterned tunnel junction composed of top n-type layer GaAs, and bottom p-type layer GaAs, the 2 layers having a band gap energy that approx. matches that of top and bottom solar cells so that the tunnel junction does not block light from reaching bottom solar cell when incident solar light is not normal to metallisation grid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cell with patterned inter cell ohmic connection as tunnel junction to connect top and bottom solar cells in electrical and optical contact. By confining patterned area to shadowed areas tunnel junction is set free from requirement that it be transparent and have band gaps greater than or equal to those of top solar cell.
Both or some of the emitters on the front surface of the semi-conductor wafer cover only a small fraction insteam of the whole of that surface. The carriers of current generated in the main around the front face do not have to pass through the whole thickness of the cell base for it to be collected on the rear face. The emitters can also be situated on both sides of the cell.
The windwheel (1) via electric generator (2) and windwheel angular speed sensor (4) is connected to the summator (6). The generator (2) via the load current sensor (8) and load magnitude regulator (8) is connected to load (3). The second input of the summator is connected to the speed sensor (5) and the output is connected to the integrator (10) and the differential amplifier (7), whose first input is connected to the load current sensor (8) and the output to the regulator.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In wind power plants. Improved efficiency and reliability. Bul.4/30.1.89
The drive has a wind wheel provided with drive and tension pulleys (5,6) fitted on axle (3) and is placed in cowling and can rotate in vertical plane. The cowling is made as a diffuser. Each working element is made as endless toothed drive belts (8) which couple with pulleys gears (7) and an endless flexible strip. The flexible strip envelopes the belts and the pulleys and is placed in the vertical plane which passes through axis at angle whose apex is directed diffuser inlet. The drive pulleys rotation is transmitted to gears and strips which on one side displace against the wind and on other in the wind direction thus causing Majus effect.    USE -   For wind energy utilisation. Bul.3/23.1.89
The blades (3) fitted on body (1) due to the wind rotate the body, which has openings (2) w.r.t the stationary framework (4). Sails (7) are placed along the framework periphery. The air stream through the openings successively interacts with each sail. The sail together with blocks (8) bends. Blocks (8) contact cable (8) and stretch it. The cable is connected at one end to the framework upper part and at other end is connected to pneumatic pump (10) sprung piston (11). The cable lifts the piston to the upper position and the pneumatic pump is filled with air. When the sail covers body (1), piston (11) pushes the air to the high pressure receiver (5) and then flows to the turbine.    USE -   For wind energy utilisation. Bul.3/23.1.89
The unit has a curved profiled blade (1) with two counter-weights (2) placed between bearings (3). Power machines (4) are fitted on the bearings. One of the machines shaft is connected to one end of the blade and the other machine shaft is connected to the blade other end. The unit can be used in mountainous region.    USE -   The unit is used for wind energy utilisation. Bul.3/23.1.89
In the presence of waves plate (2) begins to oscillate and the oscilaltions are transmitted to the hydrocylinder (3) piston (4). Thus, it is possible to supply working body to the hydro-accumulator cylinder (7), which drives the electric generator (15). When the pressure in the hydro-accumulator increases the working body flows to tank (6). The plate (2) in the lower part has different length baffles which ensure effective selection of the wave energy in the plate oscillation zone and the side baffles prevent the water escape.    USE -   The unit is used for wave energy utilisation. Bul.3/23.1.89
Photodetector, for detecting mono-chromatic or narrow wavelength band visible light, has a main photosensitive layer of (quasi-) intrinsic semiconductor doped with a material which tends to increase the gap of the semiconductor. Pref. the dopant is selected such that the doped intrinsic semiconductor has a quantum yield/wavelength curve showing max. in the region of the wavelength band to be detected.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. an amorphous silicon PIN diode based detector, esp. used together with a scintillator for X-ray detection. It has increased sensitivity and reduced dark current.
(A) A silicon soln., for silicon thin film deposition, contains as solvent a mixt. of gold and one or more metals which either have melting points below the deposition temp. or form, with the gold, an eutectic with an eutectic temp. below the deposition temp.    Suitable metals are Al, Bi, Cd, Ga, Hg, In, Pb, Sb, Sn, Tl, Zn, Ag, Cu, Ni, Pd and Pt.    (B) A silicon thin film coating process comprises dissolving silicon in a metallic solvent and then pptd. the silicon from soln. within a deposition temp. range to deposit a silicon film, the solvent comprising a first metal (or mixt. or alloy), which forms a low temp. eutectic with silicon, and a second metal (or mixt.) which either has a melting point below the deposition temp. range or forms, with the first metal, an eutectic with an eutectic temp. below the deposition temp. range. (C) Also claimed are (i) silicon thin film coating processes using the silicon soln. (A); (ii) silicon thin films produced by the processes; and (iii) a material coated with the silicon thin film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The soln, is useful in the mfr. of solar cells and other electronic applications. Addn. of the second metal(s) to the first metal (An) reduces silicon solubility so that film formation rate is more easily controlled, leading to improved film quality and redn. in inclusions.
Energy generating arrangement comprising a heat exchanger (1) arranged at a low level and a heat exchanger (2) arranged at a higher level, whereby the medium evaporated in heat exchanger (1) is conveyed to heat exchanger (2) via line (7) and the medium liquefied in heat exchanger (2) is automatically returned to heat exchanger (1) via a float-container (3) under gravity in a tube section (4), the float container (3) moving upwards after being emptied. The circuit process medium in heat exchanger (1) is heated by solar- or natural heat or by waste heat from power stations, whilst seawater or a natural coolant, e.g. snow and ice, is used to cool the medium.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement can be used for the generation of mechanical and electrical energy. The arrangement does not pollute the environment, whilst natural resources, e.g. seawater, snow, ice and solar energy, etc., are used as energy sources.
Laminate is composed of a heat resistant plastics film, a ceramic thin film, and a metal oxide layer.    Pref. the ceramic is SiO2, TiO2, SnO2, ZrO2, Al2O3, ZnO, Ta2O5, MgO, BeO, CaO, SrO, BaO, NiO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, Y2O3, Bi2O3, ThO2, Mn3O4, MgAl2O4, MgSiO or their composite oxide. Heat resistant plastic films include polyimide, polyester, PTFE etc. Metal oxides include Sn oxide, In oxide, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For liq. crystals, display elements, touch panels, solar cells, etc. The laminate has improved adhesion of the metal oxide to the base, and abrasion resistance The laminate prepd. by coating and heat-decomposition method, which is inexpensive.
Thermoelectric generator comprises a sealed heated chamber with one wall portion being a first side of a wall constructed of a selectively porous material through which only ions of a working fluid can migrate; a first capillary wick structure inside the heated chamber and in contact with a wall of the heated chamber at a heat source and at the wall portion of selectively porous material; a second capillary wick structure within the heated chamber and in contact with a wall of the heated chamber at a heat source; a sealed second chamber with one wall portion being the second side of the same wall of selectively porous material as is in the heated chamber and another wall which is cooled; a third capillary wick sturcutre in the second chamber and in contact with the cooled wall of teh second chamber; a capillary structure fluid return path interconnecting the second capillary wick structure within the heated chamber and the third capillary wick structure within the second chamber; a first electrical connector attached to the heated chamber and in electrical contact with a working fluid on the wall of porous material in the heated chamber; a second electrical connector attached to the second chamber and in electrical contact with a working fluid on the wall of porouus material in the cooled chamber; a quantity of liquefiable and vaporizable workign fluid which is ionized by heating and of which only the ions can migrate through the wall portion of porous material; and at least one heat source applying heat to the heated chamber.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An alkali metal heat engine. DEvice operates in reduced gravity or gracity-free environment and without mechanical pumps, because it collects and recirculates the liq. alkali metal with capillary wick structures.
The solar energy collector device comprises a composite compound of a particulate inorganic substance (1) and a metal (M) in the form of a roofing tile (10a,10b) or an exterior wall member (10e,10f). Several solar batteries (16) are each disposed on an outer surface of the tile or wall member exposed to sun rays. A heating medium passage-way (18) underlies the region of the tile or wall member where the solar batteries (16) are located. The particular inorganic substance (1) is selected from the group consisting of Shirasu balloon, tuff loam, diatomaceous earth and glass fibres and the metal (M) is aluminium, copper and their alloys.    The density of distribution of the particulate inorganic substance (1) in the composite compound is higher at the portion of the tile or wall member which underlies the passageway (18) than at the portion which overlies the passageway (18).    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates adverse effects of heat generation.
The solar cell module has a strip pattern (3) applied to the structured base electrode (2) carried by the glass substrate (1) before the thick-film layer (4) using a screen printing process. The thick-film layer (4) is selectively partitioned after removal of the strip pattern (3) via a lift-off technique and subsequent application of the cover electrode (6).    Pref. the thick-film layer (4) comprises a polycrystalline silicon, the base electrode (2) comprising a metallic electrode and the cover electrode (6) comprising a transparent electrode.    USE -   For mfr. of tandem solar cell with reduced current losses.
The energy regaining device is provided with a tank for storage of the drinking water and a piping distributing system leading to consumer sites being situated lower than said storage tank. A housing for a turbine is connected to the piping distributing system having an inlet for liquid and an outlet for liquid.    A turbine is rotatable around an axis in the housing.    An aperture in a wall of the housing has an axis extending through it. A coupling device is provided outside the housing the axis is connected to a generator to generate electric energy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Supply system for drinking water. Generates electric energy in places where supply of water is available but where there are no existing distributing systems for electricity.
The wave action electricity generation system includes a floating platform that supports the system components on the surface of a body of water. An anchor controls movement of the platform to a desired water surface area of the body of water. A kinetic energy converter changes wave motion energy into mechanical energy and an electricity generator that converts the mechanical power transfer strokes into electrical energy. The kinetic energy converter includes a cylinder containing a fluid, such as a lubricant, in opposed cylinder chamber portions. A heavily weighted piston is slidably and freely disposed within the body of the cylinder. The heavily weighted piston is slidably responsive to the wave motion energy of the body of water and is used to compress the fluid to produce respective compression power strokes in each of the cylinder chamber portions.    The energy in the compression stroke is received by a second and third pistons located in the cylinder chamber portions that further produce power transfer strokes through the ends of the cylinder. The power transfer strokes associated with the pistons are further converted by a geared transmission to rotary motion that turns a flywheel coupled to an electricity generator. The electrical energy produced is then distributed to a remote power station via a power transmission line.
The chemical energy generating system includes a unique suspension system having a support cable (10) submerged below the ocean surface in an isolation zone (Z) remote from the adverse influences of storms and hurricanes. Support cable (10) is submerged by an anchor which includes guys (20), buoyancy chambers (30) and guy anchors (22). A second anchor is provided by generator cable assemblies (B) which suspend electric energy generating units (A) and are anchored by suspension anchors (52). Buoyancy provided by modules (14, 30, 36) exerts a buoyancy on the suspension system and ensures that the basic components of the suspension system essentially support their own weight. In this manner, little or no weight is exerted on support cable (10) by the anchors and generating units suspended.    Preferably, generating units (A) are arranged in a matrix of vertical and horizontal rows across the width and along the depth of the ocean current. Generating units (A) are suspended by means of swivels and include stabiliser (68) so that they turn with the current. In the Gulf Stream, the upper generating units (A) may be pointed in one direction of maximum current impact, while the lower generating units (A) are turned in an opposite direction since the North and South currents run counter to each other.
The method uses a portion of compressed gas which is circulated back through a compressor located in a gas flow circuit, causing turbulent flow in a series of tanks. A heat exchanger located in the circuit of gas flow cools the gas while it is being stored, thus reducing the work needed to compress a given mass of gas into the tanks. The system and method utilises low cost electrical energy produced by a baseload facility during non-peak periods and converts such electricity into potential energy in the form of compressed air.    The compressed air is deployed in outlying areas, away from the baseload facility, to provide electrical energy during peak demand periods from a location closer to the peak electrical demand consumer. The system and method may also be utilised to boost dropped and/or lagging voltage and/or current to reduce line loss during electrical power transmission.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows transmission and distribution voltages to be maintained without relying on interties or load shedding techniques. Reduces adverse environmental effects caused by magnetism.
The floating water turbine consists of a cylinder with attached helical blades floating in a flowing river or stream. The up stream end, or front end, is anchored to a relatively fixed location, such as a point on a stream bank, an isolated moorage pier or an anchored barge. The power derived from the floating turbine is either from the lower end by a flexible drive or from the front end by a flexible drive cable that can either run through the centre of a hollow ball jointed mooring connection or the flexible drive can be a rotating anchoring cable that is secured to the anchorage: either way the floating water turbine is held in a stable longitudinal location in the flowing stream.    The floating characteristic of the turbine is provided by either making the turbine and helical blades of wood or other buoyant material, in this case the core cylinder will only be large enough to provide strength to the turbine; or being made of a nonbuoyant material, in this case the core cylinder will be closed on the ends and be large enough to provide buoyancy to support the whole turbine on the surface of the water, to this cylinder the helical blades are attached.    USE -   /ADVNATAGE - Wave motion or river tidal system. Low cost.
The air driven generator comprises a housing which is hollow, to form a chamber. The housing includes an air intake and an air outlet means. The air intaks supplies a stream of air to the chamber and the air outlet for allowing the stream of air to escape the chamber. A magnet can supply a magnetic field; the housing enclosing the magnet.    An electric coil creates an electric current from the magnetic field, the electric coil being angularly secured about the housing. The stream of air causes the magnet to randomly move about within the housing and across the electric coil to create an electromagnetic field across the electric coil, the electromagnetic field generating the current within the coil.
Appts. comprises a layered structure of: a transmissive conductor (32); a photoactive semiconductor (33); and electrode (34); an insulator (35) over the face and side surfaces of the electrode; and a further electrode (36) in contact with the conductor and the semiconductor.    A pref. device comprises a panel including the transmissive conductor (32) as a layer and a spaced set of segmented semiconductor and electrode structures, with the top electrode layer (36) an overall layer in contact with the transmissive conductor and the semiconductor segments.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a photovoltaic device, esp. a solar panel (claimed) for high current, low voltage applications, e.g. water electrolysis to produce H2 for fuel cells. Design maximises the active area for a given panel size and avoids the need for registration of successive scribes of the layer used in forming a panel.
The solar energy concentrator comprises a target area and lens including a sheet of thin flexible transparent polymeric film having two surfaces. A number of lenticular light refracting pirsms form one surface for refracting incident solar radiation striking the lens at an acute angle. A support holds the lens above the target area and the lens is mounted upon the support to open toward the target area.    The lens is folded at at least one line parallel to the lenticular light refracting prisms to define at least two sections. The light refracting prisms is defined for focussing the incident solar radiation onto the target area. The efficiency of the concentrator is not materially affected by image deterioration at the target area due to bowing of the sections of the leans during use.
A spacecraft comprises a structure which is susceptible to damage by comentary exposure to high energy radiation, where (1) the structure is stowed during launch and deployed ins pace and (2 in space and (2) a high energy radiation shield is secured to the structure to intercept momentary high energy radiation propagating toward the structure, the shield material being heated by the intercepted radiation and the heat being re-radiated into space prior to being conducted through the shield to the structure, preventing damage occuring to that structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The radiation shielding is used to protect spacecraft structures and equipment against momentary high level radiation. Fibrous silica refractory material is employed for the high energy radiation shields.
An alkali metal thermoelectric generator comprises an article comprising a solid electrolyte on which a film of Mo oxide, 0.5-10 microns thick has been physically deposited in an atmos. contg. at least 10% O2.    Also claimed is the generator above in which the Mo oxide has been deposited by reactive sputtering of Mo in an atmos. contg. at least 10% O2, the solid electrolyte being beta-type-alumina.    Pref. there is a thin layer of Mo between the oxide film and solid electrolyte and/or a thin layer of Mo on the surface of the film. Pref. the Mo oxide deposition is also preformed by ion plating or ion beam sputtering of in an O2-contg. atmos. pref. the solid electrolyte comprises beta"-alumina.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The article above is suitable for use in sodium heat engines, since the MoO2 electrodes have a low rate of loss of Na molybdates and thus maintain their power performance for at least 1000 hours. Also the MoO3 adheres well to the oxide ceramic and has a high electronic conductivity at the working temp. of 600-1000 deg.C. Physical deposition of the electrode is rapid, economical, and flexible.
(GB2216204-B)      A disc brake assembly comprising a disc for rotation together with a wheel of a vehicle, a mounting member for fixing to a stationary member of the vehicle, arms of the mounting member each having a groove, a brake pad, a brake pad backing plate, an ear projecting from each end of the backing plate into a respective one of the grooves and slidably supported on the arms in the direction parallel to the disc axis, the backing plate having end surfaces radial with respect to the disc, and the mounting member having torque resisting surfaces facing the end surfaces of the backing plate radially inwardly of the ears.
An assembly of deployable elements (3-6) jointed at their outer ends is folded and retained by a rod (13) extending through their centres (19) from a fixture (22) integral with the spacecraft, to a nut (23) threaded on to the end (16). The rod (13) is surrounded by two helical springs (24, 25) bearing upon opposite surfaces of a bowl (27) which can slide along it and in the stowed position rests between the outermost two elements (5, 6). A pyrotechnic device (15) braks the inner end (14) of the rod (13), releasing the traction spring (24) so that the extension spring (25) drives the outermost element (6) to its deployed position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For solar panels, antennae, heat radiators or deployment arms. Shading of solar cells carried on outer face of outermost panel is eliminated.
A platform (10), anchored on a reef adjoining deep water, comprises a generator building (70) and a long rigid beam (44) mounted on pivots (40). Float arms (46, 48) connect to hydraulic cylinders (42) and, via a universal joint, to a buoyant disc-shaped float (54) possessing a height to diameter ratio of between 1:5 and 1:10 but preferably 1:8.    The longitudinal axis (45) of the beam (44) is preferably aligned with the direction of the incoming waves approach at right-angles. An adjustable float water ballast system or a movable ballast car is used to adjust the resonant frequency of the system for maximum efficiency. In times of storm, a wind velocity sensor activates a locking mechanism on the float arms.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be tuned to resonance. Efficiency essentially independent of wave direction.
Glass encapsulation of voltaic solar cell arrays having means for minimizing voltage-plasma interaction effects in a space environment comprise (a) several solar cells; (b) a substrate having integral cell supports formed on an inner surface of the substrate for supporting the solar cells above the surface; (c) a substrate having integral support ridges for holding the solar cells in non-bonded contact with the integral cell supports of the substrate when the substrate is bonded to the substrate to form an enclosed cell area that encloses the solar cells; (d) means for providing electrical connection of the solar cells from the enclosed cell area to an external element; and (e) a conductive grid network formed on the outer surfaces of the substrate and the substrate for providing a zero-potential ground plane.    ADVANTAGE -   High voltage levels should be generated directly at the solar array to minimise power conditioning losses, requiring protection of the solar array from the plasma.
The solar energy concentration has a substrate (1), and reflecting elements (2) fastened to it using a film of the glue (3). The reflecting elements (2) are made in the form of metallic foil lobes mutually overlapping each other and the glue film is optically transparent. The concentrator can be designed as e.g. paraboloid or chute and directs the radiation to the receiver (5). For shaping the substrate in the paraboloidal shape base. As the substrate, e.g. fibreglass can be used the lobes (4) can be deposited on the substrate by spraying or dropping from calculated height and compacting by a roller.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar power engineering, e.g. solar rays concentrator. Simplified design and technology of prodn. Bul.45/7.12.88.
The generating plant consists of an horizontal wave-receiving chamber (1) with open ends, equipped with hydraulic valves (3,4) in its upper section (2) which are connected to a converter (5). The plant also contains a vertical transverse partition (6) in the middle of the chamber, which can be moved up or down and the valves (3,4) are positioned beneath the water level on either side of the partition. Changes in the wave pattern are countered by moving the partition up or down by means of power cylinders (7), stabilising the operation of the plant.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiency. Bul.45/7.12.88.
Water flowing from a sewage clarifying unit has its potential energy recovered by driving a wheel which charges an electrical generator. Water emerges to drive the wheel at a location at least 2m above the mean level in the body of water receiving the clarified sewage flow.    ADVANTAGE -   Calculation suggests the capital cost of suitable plant could be recovered in four years with average allowance for current costs.
The apparatus includes a watertight sealed buoyant vessel of cylindrical form having an external stabiliser for directing the vessel into the current. Internally, the vessel is provided with a supporting structure on the axial centreline for rotatably supporting the axle or pivot shaft of a lever arm having a weight at the end, the weight being supported on a circumferential rail assembly adjacent the upper end of the vessel. The weight is freely rotatable in either direction through 360 degrees.    The lower end of the shaft is coupled to a piston type hydraulic pump, which draws fluid from a reservoir, and pressurises the fluid into a two stage accumulator, the controllable flow actuating a hydraulic motor coupled to an electrical generator. Fluid from the motor then returns to the reservoir for further usage.    ADVANTAGE -   Has good energy conversion efficiency.
A multiplicity of turbine units are preferably disposed in a V-shaped array. By properly positioning them with respect to the surface of the water and the direction of wave front progression, and in some instances by diverting the course to water flow, the turbine wheels are caused to rotate so as to drive associated generators and thus produce electric power. A control subsystem automatically adjusts the vertical position of the wheels to accommodate tidal variations.    Diversion of the water is effected by a ramp with several elongated members fixed in place vertically and supporting the turbine unit mounts. The latter's positions are adjustable using electric motors.
(US4968354-A)      Thin film solar cell array with increased durability to high temps. and high humidity comprises: (1) a transparent insulating substrate with several unit solar cells connected in series arranged on it; each cell includes a transparent electrode, an amorphous Si layer with a junction structure and a printed rear electrode fromed of a baked first resin, contg. Ni particles or carbon particles as an electrical condutor,a nd mulled with an Si coupling agent.    The solar cell array is produced: (i) placing a tin oxide film on a glass substrate by electron beam evapn. or sputtering; (ii) patterning the tin oxide film to form sepd. transparent electrodes; (iii) forming an amorphous Si layer with a p-i-n junction structure on the electrodes; (iv) patterning the Si layer by photolithography such that one end of each pattern covers part of the corresp. space between adjacent transparent electrodes; and (v) applying and hardening further patterns of metal electrodes formed by printing using phenol resin contg. Ni particles as a filler, mulled with an Si coupling agent.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In addition to resistance to high temps. and humidities mentioned in the main claim, the cost is less for mfr.. (First major country equivalent to J01173763-A)
The generation device comprises a balloon (1) connected to a cord (3) and located in a tank (2) which in use is filled with water and may be filled with air by a pump (24) via a hose (23). This inflates the balloon enabling it to rise until a block (35) activates a valve rod (30) thereby releasing the air from the balloon, allowing the balloon to deflate and descend. Reciprocation of the balloon drives a generator (4) by means of the cord, pulley reels (8,8'), shaft (9) and gear wheel (20). A counterweight (11) is suspended from a pulley reel (8''), and a slip cog arrangement associated with the pulley reel ensures undirectional rotation of the shaft.    The balloon is provided with a fluid release valve (26) at the opposite end of the balloon, to the hose L-attachment. The valve comprises a perforate cylinder (27) located inside the balloon and a piston is biassed outwardly of the balloon by a coaxial spring with the rod of the piston. The piston is retained in the cylinder by a retaining plate. This plate is perforate, the perforations being sealed when abutted with the imperforate base plate of the piston. On depression of the piston this seal is released since the imperforate base plate is also depressed, such that the air retained in the balloon passes through the perforations of the cylinder and the perforations of the retaining plate to escape.
The turbine comprises an horizontal axis (7,8) from which radiate a number of tubular arms. Attached to the end of each arm is a vessel (1,2,3,4) into which air can be pumped through a tube which ends in a one-way valve (10). In use the device is d immersed in a suitable fluid such as water. Each vessel is open-ended and depending on its orientation may have its opening facing upwards or downwards.    By selectively pumping air into those vessels which have their openings facing downwards, causes them to exert an upward force due to the buoyancy achieved and the turbine is made to rotate. A slotted opening (9) in the cylinder ensures selective communication of the air supply with the tubular arms as they rotate.    ADVANTAGE -   Pollution free method of driving a turbine.
System consists of pipe to supply geothermal heat-carrier, gas-liquid separator with pipes to remove steam/gas and liquid heat-carriers, expanded with pipes to remove steam and liquid connected to pipe removing steam/gas carrier from separator, and steam-removal pipe from expander to turbine with electricity generator and condenser. Power system has, at exit of ejector system gas-separator. To exit from latter and inlet to combustion chamber recirculation gas-duct is connected.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In power-eingineering, using geothermal power installation, used as above-ground generating stations. Effectiveness of removal of steam/gas mixt. from condensate is increased by connecting system for passive flow of ejector installation. Bul.4/30.1.89.
The insulating glass panel or window has two or more panes separated by an air-fitted space. The panel has a photovoltaic solar generator (15) with connectors (5) that join together electrically solar cells (4) fixed to one sheet (7,10). The solar generator is located in the space (14) between the front and rear panes (2,10).    The solar generator may be attached either to the front sheet or to the rear sheet by means of an elastic adhesive (3,11). The solar generator is covered by a hot-melt adhesive layer (11) or by a covering film (12). If the sheet are separated by a film as in a composite panel, the solar generator lies in this film.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Building facade. Uses light passing through to generate electrical power.
A method of stabilising semiconductor devices with intraconnections comprises providing an electrode exposed through an overlying semiconductor layer, dipping the device into a colloidal soln. or well-stirred suspension of a metal hydroxide in water, and providing a further contact.    Also claimed is a device with intraconnected electrodes as above in which a first electrode is on a substrate and an amorphous semiconductor on the first electrode, metal hydroxide is adsorbed on part of the first electrode as above, and a second electrode extends into contact with the first at the electrode/hydroxide interface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of stabilising intraconnections and interfaces in sensitive electronic devices such as solar cells and ICs is provided. The cells are more resistance to thermal cycling and inter diffusion at semiconductor/metal contacts is reduced.
The apparatus uses a number of solar cells (124, 127, 129) to generate an electrical signal when exposed to solar radiation. The solar cells are mounted inside a number of trough-like shadow boxes (126, 128, 131) which permit exposure of the solar cells to solar radiation only at predetermined angles.    The shadow boxes are mounted for concomitant rotation about a vertical and a horizontal axis are driven by a pair of reversible motors. The motors are controlled by the output of the solar cells and reposition the shadow boxes to shade the solar cells responsive to the apparent motion of the sun.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased efficiency.
The unit has a cylindrical lens (1) linear multi-element photo-detectors (3,8) and photo-detector (3) illuminator (7). Lens (1) is situated in the heliostat mirror (2) central opening. The photo-detector (3) is fitted on holder (4) on the mirror rear side and is electrically connected through logic block (5) to drive (6). The lens and photodetector (3) symmetry cavities are mutually perpendicular. The photo-detector (8) is fitted on the holder (4) and each of its element (9) is provided with lens (10) and is placed opposite to photo-detector (3) analogous element (11). The illuminator is palced beyond the photo-detector (8).    USE -   The unit is used for control of solar power stations (heliostats) with tower mounted solar radiation receiver. Bul.2/15.1.89
The plant has a heat storage tank (1) connected to manifold (2) with upper, lower and side faces (3-6). One of the manifold faces is connected to a vertical bearing by a zenithal and azimuthal turning units(8,9) and is provided with a coupling unit with the bearing surface (10). The application range is increased since the bearing is made as a telescopic mast (7) and the azimuthal turning unit is made as a clutch block fitted on the mast.    The container (1) is made as a tank fitted on the mast. The coupling unit is made as rods (11,12) provided along the length with intermediate and end position catches and moving elements (14) for coupling with bearing surface (10).    The clutch block is fitted on the mast by flange pivot plate (15). The rods are connected to each other by connector made as an insert with a weight. The mast is provided with a axial channel (17) contg. a vertical pipe (18) placed with a gap and whose lower part is submerged into the bearing surface and the upper part has a thermal insulation flange (21). The clutch block has a bearing protrusion (22) and the tank contacts this protrusion.    USE -   The solar power plant is used in polar regions under conditions of permanent frost and strong winds. Bul.2/15.1.89
The plant has focusing elements fitted on foundation (1) and provided with walls (4) which can be turned by tie rods (3). The walls lower edges are provided with hinges (5). Radiation receivers (6) are placed inside the elements and are hydraulically connected to heat carrier pipelines (7). The foundation is provided with slides and is made as guides (9). The walls (4) upper edges are hinged to each other. The hinges (5) are connected to corresponding slides. The tie rods (3) are connected to the slides forming parallelogramme mechanism. Pipelines (7) are elastic.    USE -   The solar power plantis used for heating purposes. Bul.2/15.1.89
A stationary fixed support holds the central bore (1), on which is fastened brackets (2) and these are connected together by a closed system of cable stays (3), one stage above the other. The wind machine (6) has an axis of rotation parallel to the horizontal stages and these have generators (4). On the ends of the brackets (2) there are an even number of wind machines (5) with their own generators at an angle to the bracket. One of the stages is equipped with braking devices (7), consisting of braking blocks with catches, actuated by a solenoid connected with the generators (4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For wind power installations and the advantage is an improvement in efficiency due to the novel designfeatures. Bul.2/19.1.89
The pulley blocks (2) are connected with the cable stays (3) and are located in teh upper part of the cental shaft (1) or bore, while the traction mechanism is fitted into the lower part of the bore but is still connected to the cable stays (3). To the weather vane mechanism (5), mounted in the bore (1) and designed to orientate the plant into the wind, are hinged, in stages, the brackets (6) with the wind machines (7). These hinged brackets (6) with stays (3) ensure the stability and the rigidity of the support without excessive amounts of metal. During repair the mechanism (4) reduces the tension in the stays (3) and lowers the brackets (6) to a convenient position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For wind power installations, especially with a large power output, and the advantage is the convenience of this arrangement. Bul.2/15.1.89
The body is composed of a number of cylindrical rings (3) nd and is equipped with vertical pillars (4) connected to them. In the windows (1) of the body are mounted turning valves (2) of ring form, m##de of soft material and fastened cantilever-style to the inside fo the rings (3) above windows (1). Valves (2), fitted in the windows (1) on the windward side, open into the tower and the wind flow is directed into it by a falling trajectory or a down-ward directed trajectory. This flow meets the wind wheel (6) and this transmits the energy extracted to the consumer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For wide power installations and the advantage is an improvements in reliability due to design features. Bul.2/15.1.89
The blade-type rotor (2) of Savonius is moved either into the wind or over and into the water, depending on the mode of operation, by means of two stages (5,6) of cables (4) and winch (7). The blades (8) change their height, since each has at least two cones or conical sections, expanding or contracting. The generator (1), driven by the rotor provided, is mounted above it and is suspended by the cables of the upper stage (5), while the cables of the lower stage (6) are connected to the lower part of the rotor. The tensions in the cables are varied to alter the height of the rotor (2), as it is moved from the air or wind into the water currents.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For energy plants using either wind or water movements and the advantage is an improvement in overall output. Bul.2/15.1.89
The weather vane (6) is moved by the wind direction and e orientates the mechanism (5) for turning the vanes (3) themselves. Each vane (3) is mounted between a pair of radial transverse members (2) fastened to the vertical shaft (1) of the rotor of generator (7). The rectangular sails (14) are fitted on spindle (4), making one turn about it for half a turn of shaft (1), and have a frame The transverse member (2) an electromagnetic solenoid (8), fed by an electric generator (7) and having a sprung core (9). When the wind increases the generator powers the solenoids (8) and these lock the spindles (4), reducing the area presented by the sails (14) to the wind. When the wind falls, the spindles (4) are freed and the sails (14) are turned back to their original position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For wind power installations, especially of the carousel type, and the advantage is an improvement in reliability due to the control of the energy extracted. Bul.2/15.1.89
During wave motion the floating body (1) experiences a rocking movement and the liquid partly filling it shifts the edge of the flat float (3). This shift is transmitted through the flexible element (8) to the power pickup shaft (2) and this drives the electric generator (9). The body (1) is equipped round its perimeter with one or several sealing elements (10) which have a curved surface presenting a constant minimum gap to the corresponding surface of float (3), reducing the leakage of fluid between body (1) and the float (3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For water and wave power plants and the advantage is an improvement in the overall efficiency. Bul.2/15.1.89
The breakers of the waves, as they roll in, increase the height in the contracting water intakes (2), while the waves, meeting the arc-shaped channels (3), are impelled together with a shock, so that part of the water is splashed into the accumulating basin (1) which is used to feed water to a consumer. When the breakers are small and the shock or impact energy is not sufficient to splash water into the basin (1), the latter does fill up with water, since water is driven from the chamber chambers (8,9) by ther elastic side walls.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For water and wave power plants and the advantage is an extension of the usefulness due to the design of chambers (8,9). Bul.2/15.1.89
The energy converter, is supported on the foundation (1), submerged under water. A float (2) is connected with the converter by means of cable (3) and, hinged on the foundation, there is a telescopic pendulum rod (4), the end of which carries counterweight (5) and the other the siphon (6) and this is connected to the float (2).    When the float (2) rises to the crest of a wave, it pulls the cable (3) after it an the upper end of the siphon (6) along with it, increasing the effective area in contact with the energetic part of the water and so increasing the amount of energy that can be extracted. When the float falls into the trough of the wave, the area of the siphon (6) also decreases, reducing its resistance to the water and its return to the initial position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For water and wave power plants and the advantage is an improvement in the efficiency of such a plant. Bul.2/15.1.89
Solar cell has a 1st semiconductor layer composed of a single crystal grown from a seed single crystal, of controlled plane orientation, disposed on a less crystal nucleus-forming density area of a wafer and 2nd semiconductor layer formed on the 1st semiconductor layer having opposite conduction type.    USE -   For electronic appts..
An atmospheric thermal energy conversion system (ATEC) is based on the use of gas an an oceanic thermal energy conversion system (OTEC) is based on sea water to use their heat energy for the generation of electric power or for the production of mechanical energy. A closed circuit includes a steam turbine and a condensate pump with two heat exchangers.    ADVANTAGE -   This uses environmental energy for conversion with a relatively high efficiency.
A solar cell module has a base plate of glass that receives solar energy on the top surface. A reflector construction is mounted on the underside of the plate.    The reflector system is in the form of a number of semicircular section mirror elements arranged in parallel. The end surfaces are also mirrored to minimise energy losses. The elements may be produced in a panel forming operation, with a coating of a good reflecting material on the surface.    ADVANTAGE -   Economically produced reflector of high efficiency.
A connector unit for solar cells is constructed as a two stage device with a base plate of a transparent material with a refractive index greater than 1.45. Solar energy falls on the topside of the plate and the concentrating arrangement is located on the underside.    The first stage has a pattern of glass or plastics material elements mechanically coupled to the second stage elements. Both stages are formed with parabolic side walls, with the end surfaces providing a mounting for the solar cells.    ADVANTAGE -   High concentration of solar energy.
Cell has a semiconductor layer with alternating wells of p- and n-conductivity. An insulating layer on the bottom surface is patterned to expose the surfaces of the wells. A conductive layer on the insulating layer includes a positive region contacting the p-conductivity wells and a negative regions contacting the n-conductivity wells. A positive bus and a negative bus are side-by-side beneath the conductive layer. The positive bus is beneath the negative region and the negative bus is beneath the positive regions.    The tips of interleaved fingers of the positive region contact the positive bus and those of the negative region contact the negative bus. There are means for connecting the p-conductivity wells not connected to the positive conductive region to the positive bus beneath the p-conductivity wells. Similarly n-conductivity wells are connected to the negative bus beneath them.    ADVANTAGE -   A greater proportion of the surface is used and the mounting structure is simpler and less expensive.
The system has a double coordinate beam reflection detector (1) which has electric axis correction circuits, and slave mechanisms for heliostat (3) orientation, connected electrically through power amplifier. The tracking accuracy is increased since the system is provided with a flat measuring element and a reflector (6), fitted on the double coordinate detector and optically connected to the heliostat and measuring element.    The system is provided with a collimator (7) placed between the reflector and measuring element made as position-light sensitive detectors (8) connected to the double coordinate detector electric axis correction circuit. The system has a calculation unit and the position-light sensitive detectors are connected to its inlets.    USE -   The system is used for heliostat control. Bul.1/7.1.89
The wave power device consists of a vented chamber or chambers. Rising water in the chamber or chambers produced by waves is allowed free or controlled ingress by pivoted flaps or other forms of control and falling water from the chamber or chambers is controlled to provide power. The device may be attached to the sea bed for the generation of electricity by one or more water turbines.    Falling water is used to propel or retard the movement of the ship or vessel in which the chamber or chambers are contained. The amount and/or direction of the falling water is controlled, as is its ingress.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To provide propulsion and/or retardation for ship or vessel, for electricity operation on sea bed. Vessel will have only small amount of movement.
A solar cell panel comprises several solar cell matrices (10) fabricated from a single wafer of semiconductor material connected in parallel. Each solar cell matrix (10) contains several series connected solar cells (12) arranged in rows and columns as well as a single diode (50). The solar cells (12) are of the wrap through type having both contacts on the back surface.    The solar cells are glued onto a substrate (40) using an optically stable adhesive (42). Each solar cell matrix is typically the size of an ordinary solar cell, but instead of producing 0.5 volts it provides a much greater voltage determined by the number of cells connected in series and this number can be increased or decreased within the limits of physical size of the individual cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar Power Supplies. Is less vulnerable to damage than previous designs, it is simple and cost effective to manufacture, providing higher yields. Since each solar cell matrix is made from wafers, each matrix will be about size of a normal cell giving greater order for given density of cell.
Photo-sensors (1) are set in the peripheral and central tracking zones (2,3), which have identical angles of sight in the uncontrolled tracking channel and different angles of span in the controlled channel.    The zones are in the form of funnels placed in rows and forming planoconvex surfaces. The outputs of the photo-detectors in each row are connected and the sensor carries out an automatic transfer from rough to accurate tracking.    USE -   Single-channel control of heliostats. Bul.1/7.1.89
The profile of the concentrator (1) is formed by sections (2) of co-focal parabolas and the arcs of circumferences (2) the centre of which are located on the optical axis (4) at the distance from the concentrator focus equal to half the radius of the circumference. The external parabola has an aperture coincident with that of the concentrator (1). The arc (3) is conjugated with the section of the external parabola is located lower than the focal chord of the concentrator. The radiation receiver (5) is located in the focal point of the concentrator (1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar power engineering. Increased efficiency by reducing losses from heat radiation of receiver. Bul.1/7.1.89
The heavy objects which are the primary source of energy for the generator pass down an inclined plane (1). Set into the plane are a large number of roller bearings (2), which reduce friction losses. At a point in the plane, a pivoted section of track (4) is normally tilted up from the track by a counterweight (10). As the object moves onto the tilted section, the counterweight effect is overcome and the section moved down in line with the rest of the track.    Attached to the underside of the section (4) is a vertical rod (16) which carries a geared rack (15). The rack acts on a gearwheel (17) and transfers energy to a flywheel (18). The flywheel circumference has teeth (22) which mesh with the input gear (23) of a gearbox (24). The gearbox drives an electric generator (25). When the object has moved off the tiltable section, the section rises again without affecting the flywheel.
Energy derived from tidal or river flow energy units (17), solar cells (15) and wind driven devices (16), is fed to a control centre (14) and may be used to drive a block (10) up guides (11) to store the energy. Subsequent lowering of the block can be used to release energy. The block comprises a container which may be filled with rainwater when in its raised position and drained in its lowered position. The block is raised by drive motors located on it and driving pinions engaging racks on the slope.    The block (10) may be large enough to grow crops, graze livestock, and/or provide a recreation park, tourist attraction.
The panel consists of a large number of solar cells embedded in thin layers of transparent insulating material with a single sheet of reflective foil on the back of the panel. The panel is divided into groups of cells. Within each group, the cells are linked together in series to provide the required potential, while the groups are connected in parallel to a flexible flat output cable.    Each cell has copper connection strips, which are either soldered onto the rear side of a neighbouring cell or is soldered to positive or negative terminals. The insulation of the flexible cable is stripped away at precise intervals which coincide with the connection holes through the rear foil.    ADVANTAGE -   Panel has minimal thickness and cable exerts minimal tension on panel.
The generator device suitable to convert wave energy from the sea to use in, say, the production of electricity comprises a support (6) which may be moved up and down on the shore to accommodate changes in tide level, and float means (14),(44) which can reciprocate in response to the movement of the waves (4). The float is linked through a suitable linkage (20) (46) to a piston and cylinder arrangement (16,18,48) adapted to provide fluid pressure to an energy store device or to a generator.    The piston rods of the arrangements may be operated by a cam (24) which moves in response to the float movement, and the fluid pumped may comprise air or hydraulic fluid.    ADVANTAGE -   Enhanced efficiency.
A number of semiconductor devices are provided on a substrate (11). Each device has a penetrating terminal (17') extending from a conductive layer (12) through a semiconductor material layer (13) where it is in electrical contact with a conductive interconnection layer (18',19') formed across intervening material in a separating space between adjacent semiconductor devices to electrically contact the semiconductor material layer of the adjacent device. The penetrating terminal is spaced apart from such separating spaces.    A device is formed, electrically interconnected to the next device, from a semiconductor material layer supported on a conductive layer on a substrate by dividing these two layers to form a number of semiconductor devices, forming an electrical insulating material in separating spaces provided by such dividing, and forming a penetrating terminal in each device through the semiconductor material layerto the conductive layer on the substrate.
A novel solar cell comprises (a) a solar cell wafer (1) forming a photoelectric element; (b) at least one adhesive convex part (6) selectively provided on the wafer; (c) an adhesive layer (3) applied to the wafer to embed the convex part (6); and (d) a transparent plate (2) provided on the adhesive layer (3), the plate (2) and the water (1) being bonded together by the adhesive layer (3).    Processes for prodn. of the solar cell are also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The solar cell may be used in artificial satellites. It has a thick uniform adhesive layer bonding the transparent plate (e.g. a glass cover plate) to the wafer so that the cell has increased reliability in service and peeling of teh adhesive layer form the wafer is prevented.
The converter consists of a float (1) on the end of an arm (2) which passes through a support (3) and is connected to a mechanical energy consumer. The other end of the arm is connected to an anchor (5), e.g. in the form of a telescopic rod with an anchor tip. The float is of adjustable buoyancy and can be moved along the arm, and additional floats (6) of varying buoyancy can be incorporated. By adjusting the buoyancy of the float(s) the maximum effort on the arm can be arranged with the varying surface level of the water.    ADVANTAGE -   Higher efficiency. Bul.30/15.8.88.
The fibre optic telescope comprises at least one fibre optic telescopic cell. The fibre optic cell is composed of a refracted light conveyor and a reflected light retriever. The refracted light conveyor is comprised of a lens, a cone, a dual diametered fibre optic cable, a fibre optic connector, a last fibre optic cable, and an eyepiece or other suitable light receiving apparatus. The reflected light retriever is comprised of six optic cables, two fibre optic connectors, and two secondary fibre optic cables.    The refracted light conveyor and the reflected light retriever are held together by a holder, an adjuster, and a washer. The fibre optic telescope overcomes problems associated with the propagation of light in a telescope: reflection, refraction, image formulation and magnification.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fibre optic technology used in telescope could be also used in solar collector. Propagates solar light with efficiency of 95%.
(JP93033834-B)      Prodn. of thin film type solar cell comprises laminating a 1st electrode layer, amorphous semiconductor layer and 2nd electrode layer in the form of strips on an insulative base, and ultrasonically forming deep grooves into surface of 2nd electrode layer so that they reach the surface of the base.    USE -   For power sources. (J01103881-A)
The generating plant consists of a windmill (1), a tank (2) of a liquid heat-carrying agent and a heat-generating element (3) which is washed by the heat-carrying liquid and is in the form of at least one gas-filled tube (5) with closed (6) and open (7) ends. The tube's open end contains a piston (8) with a rod (9) which is linked kinematically to the windmill shaft, while its closed end is located inside the tank (2) of the liquid heat-carrying agent and its open end is inside another tank (4) with a gaseous heat-carrying agent. The rotation of the windmill drives the piston and causes the tube to act as a pump, transferring heat from the ambient medium into the two tanks, from which it is collected.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased thermal productivity. Bul.42/15.11.88.
The solar generator receives solar energy collected from a universal mirror which has mounted at its focus (2) a solid rock of a suitable crystalline structure and which is highly photosensitive and has high absorption and emission. The solar radiation focussed on to the rock material causes it to be raised to a high temperature and to thus melt.    The bonding energy associated with the crystalline structure of the rock is released in fusion and the full spectrum of radiation generated during this process is collected for use and transported towards the exterior by optical fibres.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides conversion of solar radiation to wide spectral range of radiation which can be directed by optical fibres to particular application.
The closed circuit is supplied with a chain loaded by weights which form levers possibly by providing an eccentric force on the drive shaft. The levers are formed as tensile force on the drive shaft and are brought into a sloping position of at least two thirds of the length of the endless chain turning in a triangular connection around its shafts.    The D.C. machine at the end of the first triangle is brought up to set speed and voltage and provides immediate current for lighting in the sloping tunnels connected to the main well and charging batteries. This is separate from the loading of the stations alternator. The second sloping side of the triangle has a D.C. motor with a reduction shaft returning the chain upward with a 10:1 rev. ratio.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be covered with steel dome to protect it from all types of projectiles.
The solar heat collecting apparatus comprises a collector panel rotatably supported about a horizontal and a vertical axis and drive for rotating the panel simultaneously about the two axes. The collector panel comprises a battery of individual collector units where each collector unit comprises an elongated trough member, a concave reflective surface forming at least a portion of the interior surface of the trough and a fluid carrying pipe extending longitudinally within the trough member, the longitudinal axis of the pipe being coincident with the focal line of the concave reflective surface.    The pipe can be formed of a material that is transparent to solar radiation. In addition, there can be a linear focusing lens, covering and extending over the concave reflective surface. The focal line for the linear lens should be coincident also with the longitudinal axis of the fluid carrying pipe.    USE -   In generating electrical energy.
Hot water flows into a heater (1) which is a compact plate type heat exchanger and then through a pre-heater (2) with the water then passing outwardly to a heat sink. The working fluid which can be one of the freons or other suitable fluid is heated and the working fluid is circulated under pressure from a multistage submersible pump (3). The heater (1) vaporises the working fluid so that it enters the expander (4) as a high pressure gas.    The exhaust from the screw expander passes through a shut-off valve (5) through a further compact plate type condenser (6) through which cold water is circulated. The condenser (6) then passing the condensed working fluid into a liquid receiver (7). The multi-stage submersible pump (3) is incorporated in the liquid receiver and the pump is electrically driven so the speed is controllable from a sensor (8) and controller (9). The screw expander (4) drives an alternator (10) to which is fitted a governor (11) which then further controls the throttle valve (12) to regulate the supply of fluid to the screw expander.    ADVANTAGE -   Uses low grader heat source. Economic operation and manufacture.
Composite film consists of a layer of (mainly) Ag or Ag alloy sandwiched between two or more transparent layers of thickness greater than 150 Angstrom, the layers having thicknesses that cooperate to provide the composite film with higher solar energy transmission compared to the Ag (alloy) layer alone and with high IR reflectivity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a heat mirror for use in furnaces, windows in buildings and solar energy collection. High IR reflectivity with high solar transmission.
Amorphous photoelectric converting device is formed by placing one on top of the other a series of photoelectric elements each comprising a thin film of p-i-n structure. The p-type layer and n-type layer of adjacent elements are made of microcrystalline silicon so that good ohmic contact is established while the p-type layer of microcrystalline silicon contg. boron in an amt. sufficient to neutralize the donor atoms with diffuse from the adjacent n-type layer, when the device is left to stand at high temps.    The concn. of boron ranges from 3 x 10 power 20 to 2 x 10 power 21 atoms cm(-3).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solar cells and photosensors. Efficiency is retained despite exposure to heat over long periods of time. (First major country equivalent to J01076778-A)
In the tidal power station, the dam is composed of pontoon sections (1) joined in a line and end sections (1) have braces joined to the bank. The dam also has a flexible waterproof panel (10) with weight (11) on its lower edge and upper edge attached to the bottom of pontoon sections (1), and anchors (8) and anchor links (12).    ADVANTAGE -   The capital cost of the tidal power station is reduced. Bul.39/23.10.88.
Sludge is digested anaerobically to produce methane, a concentrated sludge and a supernatant. Additional sludge is mixed with the supernatant and the mixture reintroduced to the digestion system. The methane is transferred to a storage are from where it is used to heat a rotary dryer into which the concentrated sludge has been transferred. The sludge is dried to give a solid product useful as a soil improver. Waste heat from the dryer is used to maintain the temp. of the digestion system at 105-130 deg.F.. Pref. the methane is also used to generate electricity in a waste gas turbine.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is efficient and produces saleable end-products, e.g. a soil improver and electricity.
The deformation of a focusing element (1) is carried out by applying the pressure from outside and inside to obtain the radiation receiving surface (2). The external pressure is set-up by immersing the focusing element (1) under level of water and the inside pressure by filling with an auxiliary medium of density different than that of water. The surface shape fixing is maintained by fixing its perimeter at given depths.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In solar energy engineering, for setting up solar power concentrators. Increased power by significant increase its aperture while maintaining high exploitational reliability. Bul.38/15.10.88.
Tandem solar cell is produced by forming a crystal growth mask on a crystallisation substrate; depositing crystalline material at exposed areas of the substrate under conditions to provide lateral growth of crystalline material over the mask; continuing lateral overgrowth until sheet of single crystal material having the desired dimensions has formed; sepg. the sheet of crystalline material from the substrate; forming a thin-film solar cell from the separated sheet; and bonding the solar cell to another solar cell to form a tandem solar cell.
The energy focusing unit has a housing of oval configuration comprising an outer composite insulation layer and an inner thermal energy storage layer conforming to the configuration of the housing and outer insulation layer. The inner storage layer further comprises a network of fluid conduits retained within the inner thermal storage layer and positioned radially and circumferentially in conformity with the shape of the energy storage layer. An inner cavity is formed by an inner wall surface of the inner thermal energy storage layer.    A solar radiation admitting circular aperture is formed within one end of the housing. A shaped fluid conduit assembly is contained within the inner cavity and aperture. The solar energy focusing unit includes a truss support structure, reflective parabolic mirrors and surfaces for focussing sun rays attached to the support structure. A functional iris mirror surface cover assembly covers the mirrors and surfaces.
An additional photodetector is set on the vertical axis of the four-square photodetector at a distance from its centre equal to the distance between the opposite-lying photo-elements.    The output signals from the photo-elements are processed by a logic circuit containing three 2AND-OR-NOT elements and the photo-sensor can carry out a defocussing mode of the light spot on the boiler of the steam-generator without additional calculation.    USE -   Control of heliostats of solar electric stations. Bul.37/7.10.88.
The generating system uses a wheel turning about a horizontal axis. The wheel has eight cones made of aluminium arranged equidistantly around the wheel. Each cone has a volume of at least 1000:1, and a weight of about 200 kg. The wheel stands partially immersed in a tank of water.    If the cones are numbered from 1 at the top of the wheel, the level of the water is half way between the cones 4 & 6, and cones 3 & 7. Once started, the machine continues to rotate, and may be linked to an electrical generator. The tank may alternatively be filled with mercury.
(US4936924-A)      In a method of mfr. of a thin-film solar battery, photoelectric power generating elements, each having junction and back-electrodes a semiconductor layer and a light-permeable electrode are formed on a light-permeable substrate. A laser beam is irradiated from the substrate side on to the junction electrode of one of the elements and the light-permeable electrode of the adjacent element, coagulating the melt to connect the electrodes.    ADVANTAGE -   Back electrode can be patterned without adverse effects to the photovoltaic characteristics of the semiconductor layer. @(12pp)
The apparatus includes a reflecting device (10) for reflecting the sunlight. A solar following sensor (40) is composed of an X-shape cross member having four side grooves. A light shielding top plate is disposed on the front end of the cross member. A number of photosensors are located in the side grooves of the cross member.    The solar follower sensor (40) is controlled to be always pointed toward the sun. The reflecting device (10) can automatically be driven so as to reflect and direct the sunlight toward a prescribed portion for lighting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Also usable in solar power generation system. Reliable operation, inexpensive manufacturing and simple structure.
The setting drive comprises a drive unit (10) for adjustment of the antenna or solar collector coupled to one end of the drive shaft (13), which cooperates with a slip-ring device (7) at the other end, for transmission of electrical signals and/or electrical energy. The drive shaft (13) is supported by an axial and radial bearing device (16) between its ends, with a limited air gap (17) between the cylindrical stator of the bearing device (16) and a carrier (2) for the slip-ring discs. The drive unit (10) lies at a distance from the satellite outer skin within the satellite interior, the slip-ring device (7) lying adjacent the satellite outer skin.    ADVANTAGE -   Allows handling of relatively high loadings and signal quantities.
The concentrator for solar radiation has an arbitrarily fittable output for the concentrated light. It consists of a fixed, flat frame with an upper inlet window for the natural radiation and a bottom, insertable from below, with freely selectable passages for the optical fibre beams and cables for the concentrated light.    An inner grid is firmly secured to the frame in the same plane as the inlet window. A second grid is placed in parallel in both coordinate axis to the first grid, displaceable via servo-drives. Each of a number of modular optical cells has a collector lens, a tapering tube round the focal point, a cell mounting cylindrical tube, and an optical fibre. The grids are mounted on spherical bearings so that the inlet windows cover the whole track of the run's path, the optical fibre bundles supplying photovoltaic cells lying as a raster in the angle between the optical systems. These photovoltaic cells supply the positioning drive, the associated micrporcessors, sun-tracking sensor and external appliances via a buffer battery. Pref. the collector lenses are spherical and simultaneously serve the bearings.
The generator consists of a U-shaped pipe (1) which is submerged beneath sea level and has vertical flexible sections (2,3) with sealed ends. A hydraulic generating set (6) is located in the middle of the pipe's horizontal section. The generator has floats (7,8) and rollers (9,10) on both sides of each vertical pipe section, with the rollers connected to the floats by cables (13,14) passing round pulleys (11,12).    As the floats move up and down in the sea swell the cables pull on the rollers, which squeeze the flexible sections of the pipes and force the working liquid inside it through generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased power capacity. Bul.34/15.9.88
Power generator consists of a U-shaped pipe (1) which is submerged beneath the water and is made with flexible vertical sections (2,3) and closed ends, with a power generator (5) set in the middle of the pipe'shorizontal section (4). The generator is operated by hydraulic pressure inside the pipe, created by spring-loaded pressure shoes (8) on either side of each vertical sectin. The shoes are spring-loaded and connected by cables (12) to floats (6,7) which move up and down with the waves.    ADVANTAGE -   Increased capacity. Bul.34/15.9.88
The solar conversion device has three arrays (5,7,9) of conversion units mounted, respectively, on the top (4) and the two side (6, 8) panels of a support structure (2) having a base (1). The conversion units may be photoelectric cells, or pipes containing a heat transfer fluid.    The tap panel has a centre line extending in the north-south direction with an elevation angle in the range 0 to 75 degrees. The side panels are disposed either side of this centre line and axtend towards the base. The areas of the top array and of the first and second side arrays are in the ratio 2:1:1.    ADVANTAGE -   Suitable for efficient use over wide range of latitudes and at different seasons of year.
The system includes a device for producing a force produced solely in response to fluid pressure and a device converts force to electrical energy. A housing is provided for containing force converting device and is impermeable to water. A device is provided for transmitting electrical energy to a device which functions in water such that all of the transmitting device is submerged in water during transmission of electrical energy.    Devices are used for propagating optical data underwater, and holding a portion of optical data propagating device and a portion of transmitting device together.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For submersible remotely operated vehicles. Supplies power without presence of electrical components above surface.
Magnets, preferably in the form of bar magnets, are positioned on either the top and/or sides of the upper body of a moving vehicle. An induction coil is positioned within the magnetic field produced by the magnets extending in a parallel direction relative to them. The magnetic field moves along the coils to produce electrical energy. A storage device is electrically connected to the coil to store the generated electrical energy for use either by the vehicle for on-board power uses, individual consumers or by a municipality within the vicinity of the electrical energy generating system. Pref. the magnets are of the superconductive type.    USE -   E.g. for railways.
The unit has walls (1,2) made of pontoons which are hinged to each other and are provided at the connection point with anchor ballast (4). Wall (1) is provided in the upper part with a weight (3) and is connected to the oncoming wave front. Wall (2) has an opening (5) in the under-water part and above water horizontal platform (6). The energy converter is made as generator (7) with gullies (8) placed on platform (6), a rack (9) fitted on wall (1) and cable (10) which envelopes gullies (8) and is connected at the ends to wall (1) and rack (9).    USE -   The unit is used for converting wave energy into electricity. Bul.32/30.8.88
The unit has a receiving chamber (1) connected to air pipeline (2) which is connected to a turbine connected to electricity generator. The unit has induction coils (5) with core (6) and a workign element situated in pipeline (2) and made as an elastic toroid (7) which envelopes core (6). The bypass air ducts (8,9) with valves are connected to pipeline (2) on both sides of toroid (7) in core (6) extreme positions. When the air ducts (8,9) are opened the air pressure in the pipeline (2) cavities separated by toroid (7) becomes equal. When the wave enters the chamber the pressure rises and the toroid (7) becomes equal. When the wave enters the chamber the pressure rises and the toroid displaces displacing core (6) which causes electro-motive force in the coils.    USE -   The unit is used for converting wave energy into electrified power. Bul.32/30.8.88
On a large area substrate (1), pref. glass or ceramic, a conductive layer (2) is formed, e.g. a reflecting metal-, graphite- or transparent oxide-layer, e.g. doped Sn-oxide.    In the last case pref. a reflecting metal layer is deposited on the underside of the substrate. A polycrystalline p-Si layer with a grain size of 200-500 microns and 20-100, pref. 50 microns thick is deposited. A pn-junction is formed in this layer, pref. by P-implantation or P-diffusion. Parallel grooves, pref. 0.5 cm wide, are cut in the poly Si layer and the conductive layer at regular distances of 1-2 cm down the entire width of the susbtrate, pref. using milling, laser scribing or etching with a photoresist masking layer.    The grooves are filled with an electrical insulator (6), pref. a resin. Contact holes (7) are formed in the Si-strips (3) to make the back-electrode (2) accessible.    Using screen-printing, a metallic contact layer (8, 9) is formed on the surface of the Si-strips connecting with the back electrode of an adjacent strip. The top contact consists pref. of at least one stripe, running parallel (9) to the groove and one running at a right angle (8) to this. The last one makes the series-connection.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell uses less Si, and, by using a reflecting back electrode allows substantial absorption of reflected radiation, or redn. in the Si-layer thickness. The cells are already series-connected, so elaborate processes to make this connection, as used in current cells, are no longer necessary. A large array is easy to implement and is capable of handling the large currents. The construction is used for the mfr. of solar cells for power applications.
On a substrate pref. glass, ceramic or plastic, parallel grooves with a rectangular shape are formed. In the bottom of these grooves an electrically conducting, reflective layer is formed, pref. by evapn. of CrNiPd-alloy. Then over the entire surface at 20-100 micron thick p-doped polySi layer with a grain size of at least 200 micron is deposited, pref. by CVD, sputtering etc. The layer surface ia made level with that of the walls, pref. 0.5 cm wide, left between the grooves, using polishing, etching or milling. N-type impurities, pref. P are implanted, diffused or coated on to form a pn-junction. Contact grooves are formed along one edge of the plySi strips. A metallic layer is applied by screen printing, forming a top surface electrode and connecting this with the bottom electrode of an adjacent strip.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cells do not require excessive metal contact areas, even when large areas are used. The cell efficiency is high and the Si layer thickness reduced by e.g. 80%, thereby reducing the cost, the reflecting layer allows thinner Si-layers to be used. The series connection is an integral part of the processing. The cells are used for high power supplies.
In generator operation the stator windings are coupled to a supply (N) and the difference angle is ascertained between the stator voltage vector (uS(S)) and the rotor axis (wL(S)). From a preset rotor vector (iL(F)) and the difference angle, control signals for the converter (DU) are formed. In motor mode the rotor is fed from the converter (DU) and the stator winding is sepd. from the supply and short circuited.    From signals corresp. to the supplied currents (i1,i2) there is calculated a model value for the angle between the flux-axis and the supplied winding of an asynchronous machine with short-circuited induction winding. From the preset rotor current, the desired vector (iL(F)) is formed from the model value and the phase shifted control signals (iL(L), uL(L)) for the converter.
The concentrator photovoltaic device comprises an n-doped compound semiconductor having an active junction with a p-doped compound semiconductor. An insulator forms a pattern of windows on a semiconductor surface on one side of the junction. A conductive metallised layer makes a low resistance contact with the semiconductor surface through the windows. A diffusion barrier covers the metallised windows.    A conductor is provided in conductive contact with the semiconductor surface via the metallised layer and diffusion barrier. At least one encapsulating layer such that the semiconductor, insulator, conductor and junction are encapsulated. Incident light is focused on to the semiconductor surface.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimises efficiency and lifetime of device operating at elevated temp. while minimising losses due to grid design.
The apparatus comprises a float mounted to a raft in a manner to permit movement of the float, relative to the raft, in response to ocean wave motion. An upward drive mechanism is responsive to upward motion of the float to rotate a shaft in a predetermined direction. A downward drive is responsive to downward motion of the float to rotate the shaft in the same predetermined direction. A conventional electrical generator is coupled to the shaft for electrical energy.    In another embodiment the float is adpated to be dropped from an initial position above the surface of water toward the water. A motor cooperates with a control assembly to lift the float from a pickup position to its initial position so that the float may again fall.
The self-acting variable-pitch vertical axis wind turbine or "giromill" comprises blades, each of which is supported on pivots near its leading edge by one or more radial support arms for movement about a vertical xis and a centrifugal force producing stabilising mechanism associated with each blade to provide a stabilising couple on the blade whenever it is in motion. The stabilising couple tends to hold the blade at zero pitch against the couple exerted by the aerodynamic force on the blade.    The force tends to cause the blade to pitch and reduce the angle of attack. As the angle of attack increases towards the stall angle, the couple due to the aerodynamic force overcomes the stabilising couple due to centrifugal force, allowing the blade to pitch, thereby reducing the angle of attack and averting stall.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple design with equal performance to prior art. Has high starting roque, and quick manual shutdown.
The water well and storage tank control system includes pneumatic pump apparatus used in conjunction with a solar power source for lifting well from a well bore hole for surface deposit in a storage tank. A solar power panel functions to continually charge into a storage battery which, in turn, is periodically applicable to energise a pump/compressor to generate air at increased pressure for conduction down the well bore.    An airjet chamber immersed beneath the water level in the well bore receives input of the air at increased pressure and evacuates well water upward through a delivery pipe to a surface storage tank.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Remote areas. Can be left for long periods of time unattended.
The display unit is turned by an electromotor (9) supplied by a solar cell arrangement (8). The motor revolves a mirror, turntable or moves an advertising face. The solar cell system is arranged inside the housing of the set-up which is at least partly of transparent material.    The motor may be either inside or outside the housing, and is pref. a gear motor. A buffer accumulator may be provided to maintain operation of the motor. Different physical forms of the housing, and different lay-outs are described.    ADVANTAGE -   Mains independent. Sufficient number of solar cells accommodated to supply electromotor irrespective of orientation of unit.
The system for the conversion of thermal energy into other types of energy includes a reservoir with a first high boiling point low velocity fluid, a downcomer and upcomer forming vertical flow paths communicating at their upper ends with the reservoir and a variable area nozzle for fluid of upcomer to enter the reservoir. Further comprising, a plate separator fitted in the reservoir receiving discharged fluid from the nozzle and a vortex separator connecting to fuser outlet and upper end of downcomer. A second low melting oint fluid is introduced into the upcomer via a mixing chamber at . . upcomer, producing a two-phase fluid on contact with the first fluid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The system can be used for the conversion of thermal energy from solar radiation, geothermal brine and industrial waste heat into other energy forms and is further applicable to nuclear and conventional fuels. The system is thermodynamically efficient, cost effective and structurally flexible, whilst much less liquid metal is used for comparable outputs as compared with prior art systems.
The energy generator has an upward sloping transport belt (1) with a series of projecting pockets (2) regularly spaced along its length, with the belt driven by an electric mtoor (6). A first guide (7) deposits, by gravity, heavy balls onto the belt (1) near its bottom end. A second guide (9) carries the balls (8) by gravity from the top of the belt to the top of a large dia. wheel (10) having on its periphery a series of radial pockets (12).    The wheel drives an alternator (28) to charge a battery (30) supplying the electric motor (6). A third guide (13) causes the balls to advance under gravity from the bottom of the wheel to the first guide which carries them back to the bottom of the belt.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Autonomous source of electric and mechanical energy using gravity as motive force.
The mooring line of an active marker buoy is secured to a crank carried on the outer end of a vertical shaft (6). A second crank (4), located inside the buoy, operates a connecting rod (14) and bell crank (5) which act on a further vertical shaft (7). The second vertical shaft carries either a rudder (2) beneath the water surface, or an equivalent wind vane. Relative movement between these and the mooring crank causes the bell crank's second arm (18) to describe an arc controlled by two stops (15,16).    A generator (20) mounted on the ball crank has a pinion which engages a toothed sector (21) fixed to the buoy structure. As movement takes place, a battery (22) is charged (23) to power (24) the buoy's warning light, horn, or radio beacon.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of mooring line and rudder or vane interaction provides is less costly source of power than tide operated systems and is more dependable than seabird sensitive solar cells.
The burner has a torch (12) for generating a continuous plasma. An inner wall (23) surrounds the torch (12) and defines in part a devolatilisation zone (26) which projects ahead of the torch (12). A device (11 and 13) energises the torch and introduces a plasma supporting gas into the torch in a manner such that the plasma is caused to expand into the devolatilisation zone (26). An outer wall (20) surrounds and projects ahead of the inner wall (23) and defines in part a combustion zone (27) of the burner. The combustion zone (27) surrounds the devolatillisation zone (26). A primary conduit (28) directs a primary supply of dense phase pulverised coal into the devolatillisation zone. A channel region (32) defined by the inner and outer walls (23 and 20) and forms a region through which combustion supporting air is directed in use of the burner.    USE -   For combustion of pulverised coal, such as brown and black coal.
A thin flexible skin member is provided comprising a flat-plate type delta-wing and a flap extension extending angularly from the trailing edge of the wing. A spoke lies along the junction of the delta-wing and extension, with a rigid peripheral member extending along the margin of the skin member, and being secured to the spoke.    Several reinforcing rigid ribs, extend in spaced apart arrays from the spoke outwardly to the delta-wing and flap extension portions of the peripheral member and are secured to the spoke and the peripheral member to join with them to form a solid frame. The ribs are disposed on the pressure surface only of the skin member and protrude perpendicularly from it, the ribs being positioned to coincide with the direction of the local surface air flow over the pressure surface.    USE -   Partic. for wind turbine used in irrigation system.
The Fresnel lens concentrator is formed by a specially designed Fresnel lens and a solar cell located on the axis of the lens at its focal plane. The lens is designed so that its central facets project the light from the sun towards the outer periphery of the cell Facets toward the periphery of the lens project light progressively toward the centre of the cell to obtain a uniform distribution of light on the cell.    Adjacent groups of facets of the lens project the light alternately in front and beyond the cell to maintain a constant light intensity for a certain depth of focus of the lens.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminate problem of sharpners of boundaries and concentration ratio being very sensitive to separation of target fans lens.
Radiant energy concentrator comprises a slab type dielectric waveguide (3) contg. layers of fibre waveguides with coaxial diffusers (1) in the waveguide cores (2) that effect internal scattering and trapping of incident radiation in guide modes to effect propagation of the trapped energy to the waveguide ends and thus concentrate the energy. The upper surface of the device is an air-cladding interface and the lower surface (5) is a reflective layer.    USE -   In concn. of solar energy or photo-phosphorescence by use of internal Rayleigh-MIE scattering.    ADVANTAGE -   Scattered energy is recycled to provide a cumulative trapping effect to maximise concn. of the incident light at the device edges.
A base rigidly supports a focal point equipment. At least three supports connecting the optical concentrator to the base and includes an actuator for providing differential motion between the base and optical concentrator.    The support further includes a gimbal for accommodating the differential motion independently gimballing the optical concentrator w.r.t. the focal point equipment. The optical concentrator is a reflector having a front surface which reflects the light being concentrated during operation of the support extending from the front surface to the base.    USE -   For pointing an optical concentrator in a desired orientation to focal point equipment, in an extraterrestrial environment.
The wind-driven eddy current heater consists of a magnet mounted on a rotating shaft inside an iron cylinder of a given thickness. Due to the rotation of the magnet an electric currents (eddy) in the conductive iron cylinder is produced according to Faraday's law.    These eddy currents will dissipate their energy completely as a heat in the iron cylinder where it is transmitted to the surrounding water through conduction.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates need for coils, electric resistance and other components of electric generator which increases efficiency.
The power generation arrangement has one or more turbines (8) designed for unidirectional flow and mounted in a wall (7) which divides an enclosed space (4) into two areas (4a,4b). Adjustable sluices (9a,9b:10a,10b) are between the areas (4a,4b) and tidal water source (3) or basin (2) are arranged so that, irrespective of the tide direction, the sluices can be adjusted to cause water to flow only in said unidirection through the turbine (as represented by arrowed lines 11 and 12).    Pref. the space (4) is rectangular and enclosed by walls. The turbine wall (7) may be extended to divide the basin (2) into two sub-basins to enable prolonged power generation to occur.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Deep river estuaries. Reduced number of turbines need due to double use.
An area of open sea adjacent to the coast line where there is shallow water not exceeding approximately 15 metres for several km offshore and an exploitable tidal range of not less than approximately 5 metres is impounded by a main barrage to form a basin. A further area to one side of the main barrage (21) is impounded by a wall structure (22,23,24) to form a turbine pond. At least one electric-power generating turbine (25) is mounted in the wall structure or in a further dividing wall.    Pref. the opening through the barrage into the pond is provided with spaced wave-breakers. In another construction form the barrage comprises a series of adjoining sections and, when viewed in plan, in arch-shape being concave on the basin side. The sections are constructed from hollow caissons, e.g. of concrete, floated into position and set by filling with sand.
Thin sheets are joined with their edges to each other by designing the edges with trapezoidal teeth which are offset in one sheet from those in the other by one pitch. The teeth are then folded over the gaps in the other sheet and the ends are finally bent through 45 deg.    Specifically both edges of the two thin sheets (10,11) receive trapezoidal teeth (12,13), sepd. by trapezoidal gaps and offset so that the teeth can be bent in the gaps of the other sheet end (14,15). Both sheets are then bent to the required angle from each other (16,17).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the bodywork of motor vehicles, joining zinc-plated parts to lacquered parts, cardboard packages, steel furniture, PVC plates joined to metal sheets, spacecraft applications, solar and battery mfr., lead protective screens against radiation. This joins even coated sheets safely and without detrimental effect on the appearance, also materials which are difficult to weld and requires no final dressing.
The wave energy transformation system comprises a barrage (1) extending across the water at a level above the sea level; a hollow passage formed in the barrage below the water level; an axial turbine generator unit set in the throat of the underwater passage; and an axial alternator (5) incorporated with the turbine, together with a frequency convertor (11) mounted on top of the barrage along with various control systems and connections to the electricity distribution network.    The turbine is configured so that it works equally in either direction to take advantage of both direction of tidal flow.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides low inertia system responding quickly to alterations to tidal flow and uses electronic frequency conversion to interface alternator to distribution network.
Photovoltaic device comprises:- transparent insulating substrate (1), transparent front electrode layer (3), semiconductor layer for photoelectric conversion (4), metallic back electrode layer (5).    Pref. a resist layer (8) used as a mask in an etching process to form holes remains on the back electrode layer. At least the back electrode layer includes a number of holes (6) positioned and dimensioned to permit transmission of light.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a solar cell in e.g. a house or car roof where the incoming light is partially transmitted through the device. Partial transmissibility achieved without using high resistance TCO (transparent conductive oxide) as back electrode.
The solar tracking system has a signal programmer which generates several time dependent signals where periodic motor energising signals are generated for retaining the motor energised and the solar panel pivoting westerly. The degree of pivot of the solar panel is detected and a de-energising signal is provided for stopping the motor and the westerly pivoting of the solar panel. The solar tracking control system is energised and de-energised in response to a power signal generated by signals received from the signal programmer. A water storage tank is connected to the solar panel and a water pump connected between is energised on the occurrence of a preselected temperature different between the solar panel and the water storage tank.    An east/west signal is generated in response to the time dependent signals received from the signal programmer and is connected to switches which are also connected to an overload determining temperature sensitive switch so as to pivot the solar panel away from direct sunlight in response to the determination of an overload condition.    ADVANTAGE -   High efficiency, reduced probability of breakdown.
To improve efficiency and reliability, the plant is equipped with two frames (5,6) angled to each other and coupled together via articulated support. The support and endless rail guide, along with a carriage (4), are located on a base.    The plant is equipped with wind-wheels (1,7) attached to the frames which are mounted on the carriages (4,8). If the wind direction is different from that which coincides with the plant symmetry axis, large force is generated on one of the frames until the plant is positioned symmetrically relative to air flow.    USE -   In wind power engineering. Bul.26/15.7.88
The coils are surrounded by permanent magnets. The steel tubular frame is provided with struts and the coils, magnets and floats are located on brass guide tubes. A bar magnet is fixed respectively to the floats and this is pressed in to the associated coil by the hydrostatic propulsion of the wave front.    The poles of the bar magnet are arranged so that, when wave troughs are reached, the bar magnets are repulsed by the permanent magnets from the respective coils. As a result a voltage is induced in the coils.    ADVANTAGE -   Simple and not susceptible to interference compared with mechanical unit with floats.
A vertical vane windmill (102) is mounted on a buoyancy tank (4). Its shaft (103) drives an impeller (105) in a tube (10) which contains a bulb water turbine (14) and which is open at the bottom. Above the turbine pipes (18) enter the tube (10) and at their open end are connected with pumps, operated by the action of the waves suction water out of the tubes (10) and so takes energy from the waves.    The combined action of the impeller (105) and the suction components is to draw water past the bulb turbine causing it to rotate and generate electricity. The sizes, number and disposition of the wave operated pumps can be arranged so that the whole structure provides the stable platform necessary for the operation of a vertical axis windmill.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Generation of electricity from wind and warm action, provides stable platform for vertical axis windmill.
The radiant energy angle sensor comprises an evacuated radiant energy chamber within a housing and a pair of linear array of detectors in the chamber, mounted at one end of the housing. The arrays are positioned normal to each other to provide X and Y channels. A pair of slits at the opposite end of the housing are each positioned perpendicular to an associated one of the linear arrays.    An electrical circuit is connected to the detectors, having separate X and Y axis outputs. The X and Y axis outputs are representative of the angle at which radiation strikes the sensor as measured by the passing of radiation through the slits and determination of the position at which the line of radiation passing through one of the slits crosses the associated array, there being a lens-free radiation path from outside the housing to the arrays. The arrays comprise charge-coupled devices.    USE -   Positional sensor esp. for use with astronomical telescope, to position a solar cell on a spacecraft or as a navigational aid.
The power generator utilises the kinetic energy stored up in flowing water and consists of a floating hull (1) which is moored to a bank by a cable guide mechanism (2) and carrying an horizontal transverse shaft (3) which is connected to an energy converter (4) and is driven by paddle wheels on either side of the hull. The paddle wheels are partially immersed in the water, and each is made from two discs (7,8) on eccentric axes of rotation so that their paddles remain vertical. The outer disc (7) of each paddle wheel is mounted on the end of shaft (3), while the inner disc (8) turns about a hollow pivot.    ADVANTAGE -   Desion simplicity. Bul.25/7.7.88.
The structure is made up of at least two frames each one of them being placed at the side of the other, and being provided with holes for the passage of air with a side in common and realized with a fiberglass-reinforced plastics or with a composite material and having one side open. The three sides of each frame are so realized as to act as a guide for the insertion of corresponding photovoltaic modules.    The modular structure is also made up of a closing member which is realized with a fibreglass-reinforced plastics or with a composite material, for closing the open side of the frames, so as to fasten the photovoltaic modules at a given position. Six frames can be provided which are placed at the side of one another along two opposed lines, three by three.    USE -   A modular structure for supporting photovoltaic modules, the structure being particularly suitable for supplying caravans, campers and so on with electric power and for storing such power.
A circular loom to produce a woven tissue with radial warp threads and peripheral weft threads in a certain configuration is used for the mfr. of cores to produce parabolic mirrors for satellite antennae, infrared telescopes or solar heat collectors. Shuttles (2) hold the warp threads (1) in turn by upper (4) and lower (5) clamping devices. Clamps (7) for the peripheral weft threads produce a compact woven tissue. A weft thread turning device (51) causes the weft threads (6) to pass through the open warp shed created by the warp shuttles. A spherical or parabolic template (11) retains the desired shape of the woven article.    ADVANTAGE -   This requires no subsequent deformation of the woven tissue, resulting in any deterioration of the qualities of the prod.
In a set of massive underground spinning wheels, each wheel is fitted with a mechanism to receive and transmit torque pulses from a passing vehicle. The vehicle moves along a circular path with a constant velocity. The mechanism transmitting the torque pulses is comprised of a stepping board, a hollow cylindrical rod disposed vertically and a shoe attached to the lower end of the cylindrical rod by a hinge with the upper end of the rod protruding above the ground surface. The stepping board and the protruding end of the vertical rod each are provided with a separate spring. A metal linkage connects the stepping board and the lower end of the shoe and is threaded along the central hole of the cylindrical rod to be used for initial positioning of the shoe. The protruding end of the rod applies the gravitational torque pulses to the wheel rims to keep the wheels in motion. Each wheel is coupled to act as the prime mover of an alternator through an appropriate gear arrangement to produce electricity.
The generation system has four guide sleeves extending between the bottom and the deck of a ship's hull at a given angle of inclination, containing respective guide rods supported in bearings at the top and bottom end of each guide sleeve and anchored in a concrete foundation at their bottom end. The top end of each guide rod is coupled to the pistons of a piar of single-cylinder hydraulic pumps for respective hydraulic motors. The output shafts of the latter are coupled to electrical generators via respective flywheel couplings.    The oil for each pair of hydraulic pumps is provided by a respective oil tank, with the oil returned to the oil tank from the hydraulic motors.    ADVANTAGE -   Efficient power generation without risk of accident.
A novel mirror consists of (a) a base plate of carbon fibre-reinforced carbonaceous material, a mirror glass layer applied to the base plate, and a metal layer on the free surface of the mirror glass layer; or (b) a base plate of glass-impregnated carbon fibre-reinforced carbonaceous material, a mirror glass layer applied to the base plate, and opt. a metal layer on the free surface of the mirror glass layer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The mirror is used esp. in the terrestrial and space applications for solar energy collection, laser reflection, optical communications, etc. It is lightweight and has excellent mechanical properties (such as elastic modulus, strength and fracture resistance) and thermal properties (such as low thermal expansion coefficient, high thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance).
Rooms in buildings are protected from the rays of the sun in summer when it rises high in the sky by placing on the inside pane of double glazing a number of prisms with a very acute angle, with the apex pointing upward. Any sun rays entering above a certain angle above horizontal, is totally reflected internally in the prism and impinges on light radiation receiver cells which convert the solar heat energy.    Specifically, a window consists of the frame and double glazing. The prisms bonded to the inner pane have an angle at the apex of under 20 deg. The rays from the sun are totally reflected and impinge on the solar radiation converters at the base of all prisms. A horizontal line of sight of an inhibitant will be negligibly distorted. The prisms are made of glass PMMA or polycarbonate by a casting or injection moulding technique.    ADVANTAGE -   Any inhabitant looking out of the window will have an undistorted view (within a certain angle above and below horizontal). The solar rays do not reach the inside in summer but generate energy (current or heat).
The battery blanket includes a porous resilient member configured in a convex relationship to frictionally engage an enclosed battery exterior. Hook and loop fasteners secure the opposed free ends of the battery blanket together.    A pocket utilising a hook and loop fastener enclosing flap includes an associated bottle containing an acid neutralising liquid for application to the porous lining. An upper terminal end of the battery blanket is formed of a resilient memory retention material to define a cup-shaped trough including openings centrally and longitudinally of the trough for dispensing the neutralising fluid within the lining.    USE -   Battery blanket particularly for use in an automotive environment to shield the enclosed battery.
The device comprises double circular spaces formed by an inner and an outer tube and a partition cylinder, reforming catalyst filled in an upper half of the circular spaces, a reaction tube for heat exchange between material gas and reaction gas, a burner for heating the catalyst and a furnace container. Carbon monoxide transforming catalyst is filled in the upper half of the inner space.    USE -   Density of carbon monoxide can be reduced. Load on a carbon monoxide transformer in the downstream can be reduced.
(JP2696916-B2)      Manufacture of the matrix layer of phosphoric acid type fuel batteries comprises impregnating an electrode catalyst layer (3) with phosphoric acid, then adhering fine inorganic particles (2) to the surface of the catalyst layer (3).    ADVANTAGE -   Binders are not needed and the matrix shape can be maintained.
G18
(JP2504522-B2)      The fused carbonate type fuel battery includes an electrolyte plate placed between an anode electrode on one side and a cathode electrode on the other, and a separator plate which isolates the anode gas from the cathode gas. The battery consists of several layers of such an arrangement from top to bottom. An upper end plate and a lower end plate are arranged at the top and bottom of the multilayer body. An electrolyte storage space is located in the upper end plate section and is divided into two chambers by means of a plate. Compressed gas is supplied to the storage space, and electrolyte in the storage space is supplied to each electrolyte plate when required.    ADVANTAGE -   The battery can be easily replenished with electrolyte. The battery structure is compact. The operating life of the battery is extended.
A Hall effect current detection device comprises a core skirt for accommodating a core (1), a core stopper for fixing the core, and a Hall element (8) mounted on a substrate. The substrate and the core skirt have engaging portions for locating the element correctly in a core gap (1a).    A measuring circuit includes a current setting section, (OA1), amplifies with zero adjustment (OA2, OA3), and MOSFET current output section (OA4, Q) for the Hall element (8). A Hall element is mounted in a recess in a spacer located in a core gap.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Detecting current of batteries or generators mounted on vehicle. High accuracy, can easily and accurately place magnetic-sensitive element in gap of core and positively hold it in position.
A solid O2- ion conducting material for use as a fuel cell electrolyte (152) is a monocrystal or polycrystal structure of compsn. Al-xBxz, where A is one or more of lanthanum, cerium, neodymium or scandium, B is one of strontium, calcium, barium or magnesium, x is in the range 0 to 0.999, Z is F3-x or OcFd with c between 0.0001 and 1.5, d between 0.0001 and 3.0 and 2c + d = 3-x. When A is lanthanum, Z is F3-x and x = 0 the material must be a monocrystal. Pref. A is lanthanum an dB is strontium. When the material is a monocrystal the thickness of the electrolyte layer is between 1 and 300 microns and when it is a polycrystal the laye thickness is between 1 adn 100 microns. Also claimed as a solid material for a fuel cell electrolyte is a monocrystal or polycrystal of PbSnF4 or PbF2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Use of the claimed materials as solid electrolytes permits operation of hydrogen-oxygen (air) fuel cells at much lower temps. than is possible with known ceramic oxide materials.
H2 is produced by an endothermal steam-carbon reaction using a rotating drum reactor, and a pulse jet combuster which uses coal dust as fuel to provide reaction temps. of 1300-1400 deg F. Low quality coal, water, limestone and catalyst are fed to the drum, where they are heated, tumbled and reacted. Part of the reaction prod. is H2.    The fuel is "as-mined" low quality coal, low temp. char, or a biomass. The catalyst may be Na2CO3, K2CO3, trona, or nahcolite, and a Ca cpd., e.g. limestone or dolomite. Water, organic cpds. and other contaminants are removed from the prod. gas before the H2 is used. The water can be recycled after condensation. The by-prods., comprising ash, liq. hydrocarbons, char, catalyst, CaS and CaO, can be partly recycled.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Steam, O2 and waste water treatment plants are eliminated, in a cheap, simple process. The coal fuel needs only to be crushed. The catalyst is readily available and is disposable. The H2 may be used in eg. fuel cell.
(US4980247-A)      Appts. comprises: an electrolyte source (28); a header (22) provided vertically along a side of the cell lamination (1) and connected to the source; supply pipes (23) between cells and header, the flow resistance in the pipes being greater than in the header; and a pressure port (29) operating with the source for supplying electrolyte through the header and pipes to the cells solely under the pressure exerted through the pressure port.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrolyte can be supplement in any desired amt. in a short period of time. @(6pp Dwg.No.1/2)@
Electricity is generated in a fuel cell in which a membrane which is selectively permeable to cations separates an anode compartment from a cathode compartment, and an alkaline electrolyte and hydrogen are introduced into the anode compartment and an acid electrolyte and oxygen are introduced into the anode compartment.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In a pref. embodiment, the fuel cell is operated in conjunction with a membrane electrolysis cell used for electrolysis of aq. NaCl to produce chlorine and NaOH soln. The chlorine is recovered as a prod. stream and the NaOH soln. is fed into the anode compartment of the fuel cell together with hydrogen generated at the cathode of the electrolysis cell. Simultaneously, aq. HCl and air or oxygen are fed to the cathode compartment of the fuel cell. Electrolyte is withdrawn from the cathode compartment of the fuel cell and passed to the aq. NaCl soln. inlet to the electrolysis cell and aq. NaOH soln. withdrawn from the anode compartment of the fuel cell is passed to the NaOH soln. inlet to the cathode compartment of the electrolysis cell. The present fuel cells give a higher electromotive force (EMF) than previous H2/O2 fuel cells and when used in conjunction with an NaCl brine electrolysis cell, provide a unit for prodn. of electricity and chlorine. (Previously notified in week 8950)
The case has a one-part base and the lateral edges are bonded by HF welding.
Process, and apparatus, for converting a fuel on the basis of hydrocarbon into electricity by (a) catalytically converting the fuel into a hydrogen-contg. gas; (b) passing the hydrogen contg. gas through at least one" pressure-swing" adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen gas stream of high purity, as well as a desorption gas; and (c) supplying the hydrogen gas stream of high purity to the anode compartments of at least one fuel cell stack in operating at a temp. of at least 140 deg.C, in which electricity is generated.    ADVANTAGE -   The reliability of the overall system has been considerably enhanced. By virtue of both the high purity of the feed to the anode and the reduced integration of the various parts of the plant the reliability proves to be considerably improved.
This fuel-cell power plant includes (a) a number of fuel-cell electrice-generator modules, each of which has three sub-systems, (b) an arrangement for producing a reciprocal connection between the compressed-air sub-systems in at least two fo the electric-generator modules, (c) a valve arrangement in the connection, (d) a sensor arrangement for monitoring the current from the generators, and (e) an operational control arrangement connected to the sensor arrangement, to the compressed-air sub-systems, and to the valve arrangement.    Variants claimed include a range of 2 to 5 in the number of generator modules, and a range of 1 to 4 in the number of generator modules whose compress-air sub-systems can be switched off when the demand for current falls below a specified value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A pressure-type fuel-cell power plant is offered that gives improved operating efficiency at part loads.
The jumper cable apparatus comprises a device coupled to the battery cables for automatically sensing the polarity of the voltage delivered by the batteries at the respective terminals and for automatically connecting the battery cables together so that the respective positive and negative terminals of the batteries are connected together. The battery polarity sensor includes a detector for sensing the polarity of the output voltages from both batteries. The sensed polarities are compared and a device sets the connector responsive to whether the sensed polarities are the same or different.    A predetermined low battery voltage is sensed at either of the batteries and inhibits the connector for connecting together the sets of cables responsive to the sensing of the low battery voltage.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates sparking.
Cell comprises (a) a gas diffusion electrode in which oxygen is activating material, (b) a cell vessel having an air suction hole to the atmos. and (c) a composite film made of polyvinyl triorgano siloxane copolymer thin film and one or more fine porous film to support the copolymer thin film which is inserted between the air suction side of the gas diffusion electrode and inside of the cell vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell is used effectively in the range of heavy to light load. The cell is leak-proof and has longer storage life.
Cell comprises (a) a gas diffusion electrode, (b) a cell vessel having an air suction hole to the atmosphere, and (c) a composite film made of polyorgano siloxane copolymer thin film and one or more fine porous films to support the copolymer thin film which inserted between the air suction side of the gas difusion electrode and inside of the cell vessel.    ADVANTAGE -   Practical use from heavy to light loads. The cell is leakage proof and has a longer storage life.
Porous refractory ceramic blocks arranged in an abutting stack and forming a three-dimensional array provide a support structure and coupling system for a series of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Each block includes a square centre channel which forms a vertical shaft in a stacked array, and positioned within the channel in an SOFC unit cell such that in a stack they form a coupled string of units.    A first pair of inner facing walls of each block include an interconnecting channel hole cut vertically and horizontally into the block walls to form gas exit channels.    ADVANTAGE -   System is easily mfd. and assembled, is low cost and uses integrated and common manifolding, bussing and structural support.
(JP2634188-B2)      The modifier (1) receives fuel and reforming gas from the carbon monoxide transformer (4) which are reacted with water in the presence of a transfer catalyst. Pressurised water is used for cooling the reforming gas of the battery (5) by which fuel is generated.    USE -   The phosphoric acid fuel battery is used as an electrical power generating device.    ADVANTAGE -   It uses a stable transfer catalyst and heat release is reduced.
Process for mfg solid electrolyte having 02- ion conductivity and electronic conductivity expressed by LaxBa1-xEuyTi03 (I) (where x=0.1-0.5; and y=0.00005-0.0005), comprises: (1) preparing a soln comprising at a prescribed blend ratio, La, Ba, Eu, and Ti; (2) drying the soln; and (3) firing the mixt at 600 deg C or higher.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides without firing at temps as high as 1000 deg C, excellent solid electrolyte, by controlling the atomic valence of the Ba-titanate.
Hydrocarbon reformer comprises catalyst-filled reaction tube, combustion gas introduction path, and heat feed means for feeding combustion gas. Reaction tube is several concentric cylinders that form inner and outer annular layer paths communicating with each other at one end. Combustion gas introduction path has two introduction paths, one of which introduces combustion gas fed through heat feed means along inner periphery of inner layer path and outer periphery of outer layer path. The other introduction path introduces combustion gas along outer periphery of inner layer path and inner periphery of outer layer path.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat of combustion gas can well be utilised.
Hydrocarbon reformer comprises raw gas feed path, catalyst-filled reaction tube, combustion gas introduction path, and heat feeding means for feeding combustion gas. Reaction tube is constituted by three concentric cylinders to form inner and outer annular layer paths communicated with each other at one end and central section in which heat feeding means is arranged. combustion gas introduction path is formed along inner and outer peripheries of reaction tube. Raw gas feed path surrounds outer periphery of combustion gas introduction path on side of outer periphery of reaction tube.    ADVANTAGE -   No heat exchanger is necessary.
The electrolyte is a ceramic oxide, e.g. zirconia, through which oxygen ions migrate from a dissociated oxidant, e.g. oxygen, to a fuel, e.g. methane, which is thereby oxidised to produce electric current. The fuel and the oxygen pass through multiple respective channels in a block of the ceramic oxide so as to maximise the interaction between them.    The block temp. is controlled at a high level, i.e. at approx. 1,000 K, without permitting damage from temp. runaway. This is achieved by means of a 3 dimensional channel arrangement through the block for, fuel, oxygen and inert gas coolant respectively. The channels and hot spots in the block can then be controlled selectively.
A fuel cell electrode/matrix element is formed on the surface of an electrode by intaglio gravure printing of a coating of matrix material carried in a liq. vehicle. The coated electrode is then heat treated to remove the liq. vehicle, leaving a layer of matrix material on the electrode surface.    The process is pref. characterized by e.g. Intaglio gravure printing a hydrophilic matrix layer onto the surface of a hydrophobic fuel cell gas diffusion electrode, the electrode including a catalyst layer onto which the matrix layer is printed. Placing the electrode with the catalyst layer to be coated facing upwardly.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The matrix layer is printed onto the hydrophobic electrode as fast as with the curtain process of prior art but in much thinner layers than in prior art.
The monitor is based on two mutually connected comparators and two light emitting diodes (6) of different illumination, e.g. red and green. This ensures four level indication of voltage reflecting the state of charge of the battery and the operational ability of the power supply system elements.    It also includes comparators (1,2), capacitor (3), reference voltage source (4), regulatable voltage divider (5), quenching resistor (7) and limiter (7).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Monitor suitable for voltaic batteries has advantage of operational reliability achieved. Bul.8/28.2.89.
Amorphous material is based on K hydrosilicate, with oxometallate in a molar ratio up to 1:5, with dopant elements of Gp=III of the penodic table replacing up to 50 mol.% of the Si ions. Up to 50 mol.% of the K ions are replaced by divalent metal ions of approximately the same radius and up to 400 mol.% Si dioxide are also included. Oxometallate is of transition metals, pref. titanates, vanadates, chromates, zirconates, iobates, molybdates, hafnates, tantalates, or tungstates. Dopant is pref. Al, replacing up to 15 mol.% Si ions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Proton conductor for fuel cells, with isotropic conductivity of more that 1x10 power (-4)Sx/cm. .
High pressure phosphoric acid fuel cell stack assembly comprises stack of fuel cells to produce electricity, means to deliver pressurised air supply to cathode means and means to deliver hydrogen rich fuel gas to anode means for electrochemically reacting with oxygen in pressurised air. First exhaust means to remove mixt. of oxygen-depleted air and product water from cathode means, means to deliver water fog stream to anode means, means for exhausting mixt. of hydrogen-depleted gas and water vapour from anode means, reformer means to reform raw hydrocarbon fuel and means to deliver mixture of hydrogen-depleted exhaust gas and water vapour.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant with water entrained in anode gas to cool the power section. Fuel cell power plant assembly can be operated at higher internal pressures and lower heat rates for increased efficiency.
Absorption tower reproducing method of gas purifcn. device for fuel cell comprises absorbing and removing impurity by absorbing agent through absorption tower of the device before coal gas is supplied to fuel cell, and reproducing absorbing agent by supplying gas for reproduction to absorption tower. Part of cathode exhausted gas of fuel cell, is used as gas for reproduction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Installation of air compressing and preheating devices is unnecessary, necessary amt. of adjustment gas added can be reduced by 1/3-1/2 so utility cost of plant can be reduced, and total heat efficiency can be improved. By controlling flowing direction of gas for reproduction opposite to that of coal gas, temp. in layer at reproduction can be easily controlled, and sintering of absorbing agent can be prevented.
(JP2520281-B2)      The electrode plate contains a cpd. selected from Lithium Gallium Oxide, Lithium Indium Oxide, and Lithium Tin Oxide. The electrolyte plate has an electrolyte hold rate of 20-60 vol.%, pref. 35-50 vol.%    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plate is used for a fused carbonate fuel battery. The battery shows only small thermal expansion and shows high performance over long periods of time.
(JP2615790-B2)      A phosphoric acid fuel cell generates DC from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen in the fuel gas and oxygen in an oxidising agent gas. CO transformer (2,3) removes carbon monoxide in the fuel modifier (1). Oxidising agent gas is supplied to the fuel cell main body. The recycling side of fuel modifier (1) is connected to the inlet of the transformer (2,3). Liquid fuel is injected into the reforming gas in response to rapid load increase of the fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Response time of the fuel cell can be improved.
A two stage catalyst combustion type reformer comprising reactors to reform hydrocarbons and heaters consisting of two stage combustion catalyst layer to heat reactors. The reformer is equipped with a honeycomb structured gas mixing part between the first and second combustion catalyst layers. The gas mixing part is provided with gas supply parts and passes are formed to flow fuel gas and flow combustion gas contg. O2 from the first stage catalyst layer at a right angle to the flow of fuel gas and uniformly mix them to flow them to the second stage catalyst layer.    USE -   To forcedly mix fuel gas and gas from the first combustion catalyst layer to uniformly mix them.
A two stage catalyst combustion type reformer to reform hydrocarbons by using heating reactors (2) with heaters composed of two stage combustion catalyst layer is equipped with a fuel supply nozzle (3) at a heating and mixing zone (1) in which a combustion gas from the first stage combustion catalyst layer and fuel (14) are preheated and mixed to supply them to the second stage combustion catalyst layer. The fuel supply nozzle is made of porous ceramics of which a part of surface forms fuel outlets (4) to disperse and flow a necessary amt. of fuel gas to the second stage catalyst layer. The other parts of surface of ceramics are sealed with -filler.    heat-resistant filler.    USE -   Used to uniformly mix fuel gas and combustion gas from the first stage combustion catalyst layer.
Appts. comprises: a) reforming reaction pipe-contg. reforming furnace (I); b) air chamber (II) adjacent to (I) and into which combustion air is fed; c) fuel chamber adjacent to (II) to which fuel gas is fed; d) fuel pipes with opposite ends opened at fuel chamber and (I) for ejecting fuel gas to (I); e) air ejecting holes adjacent to fuel pipes in a wall partitioning (II) and (I); f) and igniting means for fuel and air fed through fuel pipes and air ejecting holes.    ADVANTAGE -   Fuel is well mixed with air through diffusion.
A device which is a source of electrical current comprises a first electrode and a second electrode separated by and in contact with a solid electrolyte body characterised in that first electrode is permeable to an oxidiser and a fuel, second electrode is impermeable to the oxidiser and the fuel, and the solid electrolyte body consists of an electron insulating material which is also ionically conducting to at least a first ionic species and is permeable to the oxidiser, the fuel and products of the electrochemical reactions of oxidiser and fuel. Pref. species is ionic H.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Solid electrolyte fuel cell capable of operating with a mixture of an oxidiser and a fuel. Magnitude and direction of the charge flow is dependent on the particular fuel, so that device can serve as a species selective, gas sensor which does not require external application of sensing power in order to produce a measurable voltage.
Molten carbonate fuel cell comprises a) a pair of conductive electrodes; b) an electrolyte body sandwiched between electrodes a), and comprising an electrolyte of an alkali carbonate mixt. (I), more than 5-15 mol.% of magnesium carbonate, relative to the mixt. (I), and an electrolyte-retaining material; c) fuel-supplying means for supplying a fuel gas to one of electrodes a); and d) oxidant-supplying means for supplying an oxidant gas to the other of electrodes a). Pref. mixt. (I) is a mixt. of lithium carbonate and at least one of potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.    ADVANTAGE -   New cell has long life and outflow of electrolyte from the electrolyte body is reduced to prevent an increase in internal resistance and occurrence of gas crossover. j (First major country equivalent to J01243378-A)
Endothermic reactor comprises reactor tube which comprises concentric partition cylinder, outer and inner-cylinders between which are formed annular spaces, feed gas inlet and reaction gas outlet, and furnace container which comprises burner, and combustion gas path. Portion of partition cylinder which is inside catalyst-filled section between feed gas inlet and reaction gas outlet has heat insulating layer.    ADVANTAGE -   High temp. for endothermic reaction can be maintained at terminal point of catalyst-filled section.
(JP2656291-B2)      Unit cell which outputs electrical energy has a separator to a flow groove on which fuel and oxidising agent circulate. There is a matrix impregnated with electrolyte and a pair of ribbed electrodes in which the flow groove of fluid fuel and oxidising agent is formed. A scrubber filled with metallic wool is provided to remove phosphoric acid in waste gas from fuel cell.    USE -   Used as phosphoric acid-type fuel cell.    ADVANTAGE -   There is no pressure loss due to clogging. Corrosion of piping in flow after main body of cell is inhibited because phosphoric acid is removed.
(JP2656290-B2)      The matrix impregnating the electrolyte is pinched. The rib like electrode comprises grooves through which fuel and fluid oxidising agent flows. The cell comprising a laminate structure outputs electrical energy via a separator during circulation of the fuel and oxidising agent. Metallic wool, preferably iron, is positioned in the anode scrubber and stainless steel wool is placed in the cathode scrubber.    USE -   Used as a phosphoric battery with scrubbers.    ADVANTAGE -   Phosphoric acid in the waste gas from the battery is removed by using oxidation resistance metallic wool on the cathode side and different metallic wool on the anode side. Corrosion of the battery is inhibited and maintenance can be easily carried out.
An elongated preformed finger hole is recessed in opposite ends and extends parallel to the top of the battery, the adaptor comprising a comb-like insert adapted to be inserted into and closely received within a finger-hole and comprising an elongated spine conforming to the length of the finger hole. Fingers project in the same direction normal to a longitudinal side of the spin for close fitting with the finger hole and binding engagement when lifting forces are applied to the insert by the handle.    The handle is pref. integral with the insert. The fingers on the ends of the spine each include at least one flexible rib on the outside face for engaging the ends of the recess in an interference fit.    USE -   Detachable adaptor for mounting a carrying handle to a battery.
A weighted disconnect link is connected to an internal battery cell jumper. This link is arranged to bridge the centre two cells of the battery by positioning the weighted link into the spring clips of the cell bridge lugs, thus completing the circuit within the battery. The section of the battery that houses the weighted link will be totally isolated from the electrolyte and explosive gas. An access door is provided in the battery for contact cleaning and maintenance if it should be necessary device. This door provides a device to re-engage the link manually after it has been tripped by adequate G force. The G force is the key to the functioning of the system. When a sudded force is applied to the battery (a force strong enough to cause structural damage to the vehicle in which the battery is installed), the weighted link will displace itself, removing all electrical potential from the battery terminals and attached wiring.    USE -   Aircraft or motor-vehicle.
The manifold has electrolyte and cooling solutions charged and discharged through pipes penetrating the manifold. It comprises a seal layer covering the periphery of one of the walls of the fuel cell stack. A frame-shaped seal spacer has one side in airtight contact with the seal layer. The seal spacer includes a bore for securing airtightly a penetrating portion of one of the pipes, and a manifold cover mounted airtightly on the opposite side of the seal spacer with a packing.    The depth of the manifold cover is large enough to accommodate the pipes protruding from the seal spacer.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved structure with manifold which does not obstruct pipe connecting operation. (First major country equivalent to J01231274)
A heat-resistant solid electrolyte fuel cell of low resistance comprises a cathode (12) and anode (13) on either side of a solid electrolyte plate (11), to which fuel gases can be fed, many of these cells being connected in series, and current being collected at the ends (15, 16) of the assembly. Cathodes and anodes are porous layers, adjacent plates are laminated by conductive interconnecting plates (14) which have grooves (14a, 14b) for the gases. Interconnections and pref. electrodes are made of heat-resistant material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A simple, highly integrated fuel cell assembly, which is heat-resistant and of good conductivity, is provided. The tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase change in the electrolyte is prevented, which means that the resistance remains low. Mechanical strength is also increased.
System comprises a controllable air inlet, an O2-depleted outlet, a sensor in the outlet for monitoring O2 content, a recycle loop for recycling exhaust back to the inlet, an inlet monitor for the total inlet flow of O2, a plant power output monitor, and a control system linked to the monitors for calculating O2 utilisation of the cathodes and adjusting the amt. of air admitted to the inlet accordingly.    ADVANTAGE -   O2 starvation of the fuel cells is minimised (claimed).
Storage complex with leak containment facilities (10) has storage vessel (11) with inner fluid contg. tank (12) and outer surrounding tank (14). Leak detectors (26,26') operate pressurising means e.g. reservoir (18) and valve (28) or a pump when a leak is detected. A jacketed feed line has inner (27) and outer (40) conduits connected to the inner tank (12) and the outer conduit contains means for neutralising fluid leaking between the inner and outer conduits.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   AS a liq. chlorine storage facility e.g. as part of a fuel cell. Provides a safe and effective storage facility which prevents evapn. of a stored liq. in the event of a leak and also allows recovery of the leaked liq.
(JP2695641-B2)      The method comprises forming a solid-state electrolyte film having specific particle diameter to produce an oxygen-electrode film on one side and forming a rough grain on the other side using slurry or spray methods.    USE -   The method is used to form a solid-electrolyte fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   The interfacial resistance of the solid-state electrolyte-film electrode is minimum, and optimum coating film is obtainable within shorter period.
The positive terminal (12) of the series combination of the two batteries (10,11) having unequal nominal voltages feeds a first generator (15) and motor (e.g. fuel pump) (17), an indicator lamp (19), a load (21) and a DC-DC convertor (22) supplying electronic components (23). The negative terminal (14) feeds a second generator (16) and motor (e.g. windscreen wiper) (18) and heavier loads (20) such as heaters insensitive to voltage. A 36 V load (24) and e.g. a blower motor (25) may be supplied with the 12 V of one battery (10) in combination with the 24 V of the other (11), across which the starter (26) is connected directly.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical loads can be connected to whichever battery has more suitable voltage and third nominal voltage can be secured by connection of two different nominal voltages in series.
Dense conductive layer is bonded to a porous conductive electrode structure by: forming a layer of oxide particles of one or more of Ca, Sr, Co, Ba and Mg on a first electrode surface; heating; and applying La/Cr halide vapour to this surface and an 02 source to an opposite, second surface of the structure.    The 02 reacts with the halide at the first surface to cause a dense La/Cr oxide structure to grow around the metal oxide particles; and the metal component diffuses into the growing layer to form a dense, conductive layer on the porous electrode structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp in high temp cells eg fuel cells. Method avoids prior art problems of thermal expansion mismatch, dopant non-uniformity and interface porosity, in a simple and economic process.
The plant is followed by a heat exchanger sepg. condensate from discharged gases and using recovered heat for pre-heating incoming fuel supplies. A gas waste separates residual fuel for reuse, and also catalyst gas for return to the electrodes.    Further washers and reactors remove harmful materials to produce acceptable final emissions. Transfers of steam condensate, fuel etc. within the plant are micro-processor controlled.    ADVANTAGE -   Has high efficiency and does not harm environment.
In the prepn. of H2 and CO2, required for operating high temp. fuel cells with oxygen ion-conductive electrolytes and with O2 supplied in the form of air, using a fired reformer, the novelty is that the reformer is heated without pressure and that the CO2 content of the reformer heating flue gas is (partially) removed in a CO2 scrubber and supplied to the fuel cells.    ADVANTAGE -   The process avoids the size limitation of pressure-fired reformers so that several parallel-connected small pressure-fired reformers can be replaced by a single pressure-less heated reformer of the same H2 capacity for operating e.g. a pressurised fuel cell battery. The CO2 scrubbing separates undesired components and allows control of CO2 supply just to cover the CO2 requirements of the fuel cells.
A monolithic solid oxide fuel cell stack is formed by: (a) forming electrode sub-assemblies by: (i) providing appropriately sized green unsintered tapes of solid oxide electrolyte material; (ii) sintering tapes to form plates of electrolyte material of appropriate operational density; (iii) forming a finished layer of oxide material on one surface of sintered electrolyte plates; (iv) forming a finished layer of cathode on an opposite surface of sintered electrolyte plates; (b) forming gas separator-reactant flow field sub-assemblies by: (i) providing appropriately sized green unsintered sheets of interconnect material; (ii) sintering sheets to form laminae of interconnect material; (iii) forming a finished anode flow field layer of anode material on one surface of laminae, anode flow field layers including parallel ribs and intervening grooves extending across laminae in a first direction; (iv) forming a finished cathode flow field layer on an opposite surface of laminae, cathode flow field layers including parallel ribs and intervening grooves extending across laminae in a second direction perpendicular to first direction; (c) stacking electrode sub-assemblies and gas separator-reactant flow field sub-assemblies one atop the other in alternating fashion with cathode material layers abutting anode flow field layers to form a stack pre-assembly; (d) heating stack preassemble to an elevated subsintering temp. to cause softening of subassemblies which may be creep flattened to form an intimate interfacial contact; (e) applying a light compressive load axially to stack preassembly during heating to cause them to fuse together into a monolithic stack structure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method for making an improved monolithic solid oxide fuel cell stack which is amenable to simple reactant feeding and manifolding and is relatively free from micro-cracks in its component layers.
(JP2710125-B2)      The vapour separator system comprises regulating device (19) to adjust surplus vapour to heat exchanger according to power output of battery, battery cooling-water circulating pump (2), fuel battery (B), modifier (6), heat exchanger (7), flow control valve (8a), function generator (20), etc.    USE -   The separator is used for fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Prolonged fuel battery life is possible and need of gasoline operation is avoided.
(JP2710124-B2)      Pure water supply control apparatus for steam separator (1) of battery (3) supplies water of predetermined temperature and pressure to fuel battery where heat exchange in the steam separator provides steam to the modifier (6) for fuel gas generation. The apparatus includes a pump (5) in the heat exchanger (7) which supplies pure water to the separator, the supply being adjusted by a flow control valve (18), a flow element (19) which detects the quantity of pure water, a function generator (21) which computes the pure water supply according to the output electric power of the fuel battery and a flow controller (20) which controls the opening of the flow control valve based on the output from the function generator and the flow element.    ADVANTAGE -   Pressure fluctuations in the separator are minimal and surplus steam is utilised.
Gamma Li AlO2 powder is contacted with H2O and obtd. hydrate heated e.g. at 300-1000 deg.C to remove H2O and form porous LiAlO2 powder prod. (I). H2O may be mixed with an organic solvent contg. -OH e.g. MeOH or EtOH.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is resistant to corrosive action of alkali carbonate and is useable as a carrier for internally modified catalysts in the fuel circuit of molten carbonate type fuel cells where (I) shows high modifying activity and long life.
Bi2O3, major component, Nb2O5, 5 - 10 mol.%, and a trivalent rare earth oxide, Y2O3, 5 - 20 mol.%, are mixed to form a solid.    ADVANTAGE -   The high oxygen ion conductor is used as solid electrolyte used in a fuel cell power generating system, steam electrolytic system, oxygen pump, or oxygen sensor. The high oxygen ion conductor has good conductivity at a wide temp. range, 500 - 800 deg.C. When the high conductor is used in the fuel cell power the conductor obtains the same current at 550 deg.C as that of conventional ZrO2 electrolyte operated at 1000 deg.C. The conductor has no possibility of corrosion.
Fuel reformer has reforming catalyst (9) held at the wall surfaces of a reactor (1) having catalyst supporter (10), e.g. SUS wool, to push the catalyst to the wall surfaces of the reactor.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat transfer in a reactor is increased.
(JP2519077-B2)      The redox battery includes a cylindrical spool valve set in the electrolyte supply or return line of each cell.
(JP2640485-B2)      In a fuel cell, raw material gas is reformed for use as the fuel gas. Moisture is isolated at the fuel battery outlet using a hollow fibre membrane. Raw material gas is used as a purge gas to remove the moisture separated by the moisture separation apparatus.    USE -   Separation of steam from fuel all exhaust gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The steam which is removed can be made to drive a steam turbine, thus improving electricity generation efficiency. The steam is separated easily.
Fuel cell stack comprises cells each with a catalytic anode (6) and cathode (8) sandwiching an ion-permeable membrane (4), and a wet-proofed C paper (14) bonded to the outer cathode surface. A bipolar separator (18) contacts the paper and forms an oxidant flow field, the separator being in contact with the anode of the next cell. Conductive screens (30) are provided between and in contact with the C paper (14) and the bipolar separator (18).    ADVANTAGE -   The screens result in improved prod. water removal and improved cell performance.
A fuel cell plant includes a power section which has a cooling water circulating system. Water is stored in a tank and is decontaminated in a separate vessel. A first conduit carries water from the storage tank to the decontamination vessel, a second interconnects the decontamination vessel and the power section, a third conduit carries clean water from the vessel to the tank, and a fourth conduit carries contaminated water from the power section to the storage tank. Water is discharged to the ambient from the third conduit when the amt. of water in the storage tank exceeds a predetermined vol.    ADVANTAGE -   Only clean water is discharged to ambient.
The appts. includes a bracket or frame for supporting in at least two positions a box which holds the battery. The frame has a web portion which is attached to the vehicle and an extended leg portion at either end of the web portion. Mounted on the inner surface of each leg portion is a vertical slide member. Each of the slide members is received within a corresponding guide member which is mounted on the outer surface of the side walls of the box. The position of the box relative to the mounting frame is slidably adjustable. A pair of hooks are mounted on either side of the box at one end for pivotal movement relative to the box.    A perforated channel member is mounted on the outer surface of each leg portion of the mounting frame. The other or free end of the hooks are insertable within any one of a pair of perforations in the channel members. The box is closed on the sides and bottom to isolate the battery from the local environs of the vehicle, but is open at the top to permit access to the battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Easy access to terminals and cells and prevention against acid leakage.
Dry fuel cell stack assembly includes a pair of opposed electrodes positioned between first and second plates, a matrix plate between the electrodes, a porous paper in the matrix plate, and passages for supplying electrolyte. The paper has sufficient porosity to allow the cell to be assembled before the electrolyte is added.    Pref. the paper includes a sheet of 'TORAY TGP 30' (RTM).    ADVANTAGE -   Cell may be assembled dry.
A fuel cell (3) supplies power to a fluctuating load (5), such as required by a fork lift truck, with a storage battery (6) as a back-up, the fuel cell (3) recharging the battery (6) under light load conditions.    A controller (15) monitors the battery current, ampere-hours and voltage by measuring devices (11,12,13) comparing the values obtd. with predetermined values held in a memory (14). The controller (15) then computes the battery residual storage capacity and optimum charging rate and varies the signal (Ifc) to an auxiliary controller (10) which via transfer pump (7), air blower (8) and reaction air blower (9) controls the fuel cell (3) output power.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Charging is finely controlled with conditions close to maximum allowable rate giving fast charging without battery damage.
Fluid distributor plate has supply and discharge apertures for flow of fluid through a central opening forming a reaction chamber, the opening being connected to the central opening by a channel including a first portion for introducing a pressure drop in the flowing fluid and a second portion having diverging walls for delivering fluid from side to side across the width of the central opening.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In a filter press electromechanical cell which can be used in many applications. Distributor plate eliminates fluid channelling and blockage by particulate matter or gas bubbles, has lower flow rates to achieve adequate distribution, is simple in design with low construction costs using fewer and interchangeable cell parts, and can be used with known ESA electrodes in many electrochemical applications.
Electrochemical system comprises: a converter assembly of columnar converter elements (21) each including a set of electrolyte plates (1) with a fuel electrode material coated on one side and oxidiser electrode material coated on the other, and a set of interconnector plates (2) alternating with the electrolyte plates to form a gas-tight stack; and an inter-columnar heat transport assembly having elements (31) between but spaced from, the converter elements to provide efficient temp. regulation by radiant heat transfer.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In generation of electricity in conjunction with e.g. a steam boiler; or in a space power system using a high temp. electrolytic cell and low temp. fuel cell loop. Arrangement permits highly effective independent thermal control.
Fuel reformer comprises reforming pipes each filled with reforming catalyst through which feed gas is passed to convert it to hydrogen-enriched gas. Throttle is provided in each of reforming pipes, and throttle has a spiral flow path having flow resistance greater than that of the reforming catalyst layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Flow rate of feed gas passing through each of reforming pipes can be made uniform.
(JP2621901-B2)      Manufacturing a phosphoric acid fuel battery comprises arranging a catalyst layer on both sides of an electrolyte retaining matrix by forming a separator using carbon powder or carbon fibres, forming a reaction gas passageway into the formed porous carbon plate, and baking the porous carbon plate and nonporous carbon plate laminated together with resin to form the separator.    USE -   Used for manufacturing phosphoric acid fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel battery obtained is more efficient, has a longer lifetime and is stronger. The manufacture is easier and time saving.
Electrical energy and gas for chemical syntheses are obtd. by: supplying a C-contg. fuel to a molten metal in a carburation stage; removing impurities in a desulphurisation stage; heating the molten metal; and contacting it with a solid electrolyte to convert the fuel to the electrical energy and gas. The metal is pref. molten Fe contq. C in soln. and the solid electrolyte is pref. a refractory oxide e.g. ZrO2, ThO2, HfO2, CaO, MgO, Y2O3, Yb2O3 etc. or mixts. of these, esp. ZrO2.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical energy and raw material gas can be obtd. on an industrial scale.
The starter battery has a plug (6) a socket acting as cable connector for its pole (4). The plug or socket is inocorporated into the battery casing (1) and fixed to it by embedding into the casing plastics. The plug or socket has several contacts (7). The plug or socket may be incorporated into the cover (3) of the casing.    A shared plug or socket is used for both poles of the battery. A flat or round cable (8) is used to connect the poles to the plug or socket. A solid metal connection piece (13) fits onto the pole and is welded to it and is attached to one end of the flat cable (8). A metal sleeve (12) is also provided and welded with the pole and piece.    USE -   Vehicle battery with alternative connection via spade type connectors.
A process for applying a catalyst layer to a surface of a porous substrate to form a fuel cell electrode. The substrate has an upper and a lower surface comprising: contacting the upper surface of the substrate with a mixt. comprising a hydrophobic polymer and a catalyst; establishing a selected distribution of reduced pressure over the lower surface of the porous substrate to cause the mixt. to be deposited in a layer of non-uniform thickness on upper surface of porous substrate, the thickness increasing along one axis of upper surface so that electrode has a catalyst loading per unit area of upper surface that increases along the one axis. Pref. the mixt. additionally comprises an inert carrier gas to . form a fluidised mixt. and the substrate is an electrode substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved fuel cellusing at least one electrode having a catalyst layers that increases in catalyst loading in the direction of the bulk flow of gas over the electrode The electrode provides a substantially uniform current density and uniform heat flux across surface of electrode during use.
The chemical energy generating system includes a unique suspension system having a support cable (10) submerged below the ocean surface in an isolation zone (Z) remote from the adverse influences of storms and hurricanes. Support cable (10) is submerged by an anchor which includes guys (20), buoyancy chambers (30) and guy anchors (22). A second anchor is provided by generator cable assemblies (B) which suspend electric energy generating units (A) and are anchored by suspension anchors (52). Buoyancy provided by modules (14, 30, 36) exerts a buoyancy on the suspension system and ensures that the basic components of the suspension system essentially support their own weight. In this manner, little or no weight is exerted on support cable (10) by the anchors and generating units suspended.    Preferably, generating units (A) are arranged in a matrix of vertical and horizontal rows across the width and along the depth of the ocean current. Generating units (A) are suspended by means of swivels and include stabiliser (68) so that they turn with the current. In the Gulf Stream, the upper generating units (A) may be pointed in one direction of maximum current impact, while the lower generating units (A) are turned in an opposite direction since the North and South currents run counter to each other.
Proton conductive non-crystalline material comprises non-crystalline metal oxide(s), pref. of B, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, P, Ti or Zr, and water contg. heteropolyacid and/or its salt, e.g. H3PW12O40.29H2O, H3PMo12O40.29HO, H4SiW12O40. 30H2O, etc. dispersed in the former.    ADVANTAGE -   Material exhibiting high proton conductance, and good heat resistance and durability. It is suitable for solid electrolyte of electro-chemical device, e.g. sensor, solid secondary cell, fuel cell, etc.
The fuel cell (10) has a porous anode electrode (28) and a porous cathode electrode (22) with a porous matrix (20) containing an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes (22,28) and an electrolyte control volume. A first backing (24,30) is positioned adjacent one of the electrodes, a portion of the first backing being pervious to the electrolyte to absorb electrolyte when there is an excess in the matrix (20) and to desorb electrolyte when there is a shortage in the matrix. A second backing (26,32) is adjacent the first backing, the second backing being impervious to the The second layer is pref. of backing paper, positioned adjacent the first layer.    USE -   Fuel cell with electrolyte reservoir.
A smaller version of the battery can supply current to a lamp and also serve as an emergency starting battery for the engine of a vehicle. A larger version can replace the main battery in the engine compartment. A carrying handle and shoulder strap facilities facilitate transport.    Two sockets are provided for vehicular accessories such as halogen lamps, and two terminals for charging. White and amber flashing lights are selected by switching. Reflectors direct white light towards the front and flashing yellow light to the rear. 12V and 6V supplies are available for hand tools or other loads.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery can be withdrawn for charging at service stations. Lamp is compact, easily handled, and protected from dirt and oil.
The sealing assembly includes a resilient member for providing a sealing barrier between the manifold and the stack. Another resilient member provides a sealing barrier between the manifold and the stack. The resilient members are held in such a manner so as to define an area therebetween adapted for retaining a sealing composition. The assembly also includes a set of retainer bars, tie rods, compression springs and the like for providing the force necessary to physically urge the manifold against the stack.    The resilient members include Teflon cords and the sealing composition includes a fluorinated grease. When the seal assembly is compressed, the grease is forced into the small gaps between the Teflon cords and irregular stack surface such that a seal is established by the combination of the compliant colds and grease. To retain the Teflon cords from moving outward from the hydraulic force created by compressing the grease, the cords may be held within grooves formed in the manifold.    ADVANTAGE -   Reliable.
A CO converter(6) to convert steam-reformed gas to reformed gas contg. low concn. of CO comprises a case(8) having an opening, a cylinder(11) inserted to the case keeping a space between the opened bottom of the cylinder and the bottom of the case. a lid(9) to close the case and cylinder, an inlet placed at the case and an outlet placed at the cylinder. Catalyst layers are formed in the cylinder and a space between inner walls of case and cylinder to form a circular outer catalyst layer and gas is continuously passed through both catalyst layers.    USE -   Equilibrium of conversion reaction can be kept even when steam-reformed gas with a low temp. enters the converter and reformed gas contg. high concn. of H2 is obtd. and used for fuel cells.
(JP2569679-B2)      A fusion carbonate type fuel battery comprises a solid electrolyte plate (1), anode and cathode (2,3), figure and oxidn. side metal members (5,7), thick and thin sheets (9,10) and sintering plate (11). The anode is situated in the redn. side metal member and the cathode in the oxidn. side. The electrolyte plate is larger than the cathode and anode and is of such thickness to locate neutral atmos. in centre. A metal sintered body having same magnitude as electrolyte plate is situated between it and a thin electrolyte sheet on the anode side.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a battery. A sintered metal powder plate between electrolyte sheets prevents cross-contamination of fuel with oxidn. atmos. side in event of cracking.
(JP2643211-B2)      A fused carbonate fuel cell comprises a ceramic substrate electrolyte layer covered with a different type of ceramics material. Preferably the substrate is composed of two or more different types of ceramic powder.    ADVANTAGE -   Good time-potential characteristic.
(JP2508781-B2)      An electric power fuel battery comprise: fuel battery (1), cathode (2), anode (3), modifier (5), combustion chamber (5bs), desulphurisation device (7), cooling part (19), heat exchanger (20), line (22), ejector (24), town gas (TG) and air (A). Gas is supplied via s modifier to the fuel battery anode and gas discharged by anode is introduced into the combustion chamber of the modifier. Gas exiting the combustion chamber is mixed with air to be supplied to the cathode. A cooling part contg. catalyser is adjoined to the cathode. Gas passes through a heat exchanger after being desulphurised, is cooled and introduced into cooling part to cool the cathode.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel battery contg. carbonic acid salt electrolyte sandwiched between porous tiles with an oxygen pole (cathode supplied with oxidising gas) and fuel pole (anode supplied with fuel gas), is for generating electricity. Battery efficiently generates electricity from town gas and natural gas.
(JP93051151-B)      Fuel cell comprises electrodes, each composed of a porous plate made of a metal cpd. contg., at least, Ni, Cu, Fe, Mn or Co, to which a metal nitrate in an ammonium salt soln. is added. The metal cpd. is then sintered. (J01186562-A)
NOVELTY - The apparatus (1) has a boosting voltage controller (36) comprising a sensor for detecting direct current (DC) voltage supplied between output terminals (11, 12) connected to a pair of cables (4). Another sensor of the controller produces a signal representative of voltage drop caused in cables by the DC voltage. The controller varies a high current adjustable resistive load (15) based on the detected DC voltage and the signal to adjust boosting voltage applied between positive and negative terminals of a battery (2) to a predetermined voltage.    USE - Apparatus for boosting a battery of a motor vehicle and a service lorry.    ADVANTAGE - The controller varies the high current adjustable resistive load based on the DC voltage supplied between the output terminals, and the signal representative of the voltage drop caused in the cables to adjust the boosting voltage applied between terminals of the battery to the predetermined voltage, so that variation in the boosting voltage is avoided. Ends of the cables connected to the positive and negative terminals of the battery are provided with terminal clamps to allow easy connection and disconnection of the cables to and from the terminals of the battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a circuit diagram of a battery boosting apparatus.    Battery boosting apparatus (1)    Battery (2)    Cables (4)    Output terminals (11, 12)    High current adjustable load (15)    Boosting voltage controller (36)
The catalyst tube assembly comprises a cylindrical metal tube with a bore which contains the catalyst bed. A coaxial sleeve is fitted around the tube. A number of ribs are located between the tube and sleeve forming helical hot gas flow paths. The ribs have arcuate surfaces which form line contact with the exterior of the tube.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides improved heat transfer to the catalyst tubes increasing the efficiency of the reformer by 5% to 10% of fixed flow rates, or the fuel flow rate can be increased by up to 50% at a fixed reformer efficiency. The assembly is inexpensive to produce easily assembled and produces a tight, yet flexible heat transfer zone.
(JP2748379-B2)      The battery has several planar electrodes and separators which are laminated alternately. Resin is coated on the entire periphery except on a terminal, by employing injection moulding process. The electrodes and the separators are held together by an injection moulding die (16).    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces weight of battery. Improves energy density of battery.
(JP2554114-B2)      An anode is located on one side of an electrolyte board. The separator is situated between the anode and cathode. The partition board which is situated between a pair of frames isolates the anode and cathode. Corrugated boards have gas flow paths. Gas supply and gas discharge manifolds are situated on the partition board and the frames. A thin plate is arranged on the upper part of the corrugated boards so that the height of these boards become the same as the height of the frames.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Separator of fuel battery with internal manifold. Separator is cheap.
(JP2528922-B2)      The fuel cell comprises (i) an electrolytic reserved layer (7) that holds (ii) a carbonated layer (8) which is composed of alkali metal or alkaline earth metal and an anode (2) and a cathode (3). The alkali or alkaline earth metal has a fusing point higher than that of the carbonated layer (8).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used esp. as an electrolyte board (1). The fuel cell provides a uniform supply into a matrix (6) without need for complicated supply appts. and has long-life.
Water circulating appts. to remove fuel contaminants from fuel gas in fuel cell comprises a separator to separate the contaminants by feeding cooling water into a contact cooler to cool the gas with the water and contaminant collector.    USE -   For fuel cells. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8927)
The fibre structure electrode flames, with a porosity of 50 to 97 per cent are fixed with their tags in a transport carousel (1). This dips them into a container (3) fitted with active-mass paste displaced in oscillations directed perpendicular to the main face of the electrode frame. After completed filling by the transport carousel is then pulled out of the container.    The filled framework is freed from over-abundant active mass paste. First two scrapers scrape off the excess, and then the paste left behind by the scrapers is removed by brushes. The filled and cleaned fibre structure electrode frames are removed from the transport carousel. They are pref. dried before removal from the transport device. Fresh paste may be fed in to replace that being used.    ADVANTAGE -   Rapid. Can be largely automatic. Consistent quality.
A jump lead connector facility for use with the power supply of road vehicles, employs a cable that has plugs at each end. The centre pin of the pin provides a positive connection and the outer bush a connection with the negative of the supply. The road vehicles have a socket adapter (6) with a centre bush assembly that receives the plug.    An inner contact (7) is coupled to a cable (10) that is fixed to the positive terminal of the battery. An outer contact (11) is coupled to a cable connected to the negative terminal.    ADVANTAGE -   Provides jump lead facility for road vehicles.
Fused carbonate type fuel cell consists of: (1) the cell unit having the carbonate electrolyte plate and a pair of anode and cathode facing each other through the electrolyte plate placed between the electrodes, and (2) separators placed to separate the units which are laminated to put the polarity of the electrodes in order. Each separator has respective gas feeding channel of the reaction gas which corresponds to the electrodes facing each other through the separator. In such fuel cell, inside of the gas feeding channels are coated with the insulating and corrosion resistant material.    The insulating and corrosion resistant coating comprises the sintered coating of the applied powder of one of alumina, zirconia, titania, silicon carbide, lithium aluminate or silicon nitride.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used for the cell in which natural gas is used for the fuel. The cell can be prevented from occurrence of the local cells and corrosion of the gas feeding channels.
(JP2638023-B2)      Electrolyte circulation-type cell has pump which circulates positive electrode and negative electrode electrolyte between main body of cell and tank which stores each electrolyte. The cell has a double box tank storing electrolyte in double structure portion, and piping which connects tanks.    ADVANTAGE -   Energy density of the battery is improved and manufacturing costs are reduced.
The first embodiment consists of a fuel cell stack (S) clamped between upper and lower bolders (10,11), hollow plates (16) and pressure plates (12,13), the latter connected by rods (14) with springs (15) arranged to compress the assembly. The hollow plates (16) consist of a sealed hollow body of two disc-shaped thin plates which are seam welded and filled with porous material which encloses air.    As the stack temperature rises the internal pressure of the hollow plates (16) rises and the thin upper and lower plates bend applying tightening pressure to the central part of the stack.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells. Uniform pressure applied to stack without using thick pressure plates giving inexpensive compact tightening' appts..
HCl soln. is flowed upwardly through a metal particle bed e.g. of Fe without fluidising the particles and H2 prod. collected. Pref. the particles are held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray in a receiving vessel and opt. the HCl soln. exiting from the bed top is fed to a second particle bed e.g. of Zn. A coolant can be circulated in the base of the vessel to control feed HCl temp. and reaction rate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   H2 is generated on demand without formation of toxic waste prods. Prod. is suitable for use in a H2/Cl2 fuel cell (claimed). Distributor plates do not cloq or block. H2 storage problems are avoided. Mfg. facility can be deep underground. Byprods. from fuel cell are useable in H2 mfr.
Gps. of battery plates with a microporous separator are assembled by: cutting separators from a roll (1); forming pleats (3) to form channels in which plates of opposite polarity are placed with their lugs facing upward, the plates being fed from distributors (6) placed, with respect to the channels, in staggered positions from frst to last; gradually narrowing the channels; perfectly and reciprocally aligning the plate of each gp.; inserting negative end plates fed from two opposite distributors; and separating the finished gps. (II).    ADVANTAGE -   Method allows the plates to be precisely positioned and centred, and also allows a stacked gp. to be perfectly inserted in a battery case.
The cooling panel (4) in the fuel cell has an inner substrate layer (41) which consists of two plane upper and lower plates essentially running parallel to each other and with opposing surfaces connected to each other and side surfaces (44) respectively positioned between the upper and lower outer surfaces (42). A number of parallel recesses is provided between the inner surfaces of the two plates (41).    A number of cylindrical hollow tubes (5) is accommodated in the recesses which at the periphery have close contact between the tubes and the walls of the recesses and are positioned to receive the cooling medium. A sealing medium is used to seal the inner substrate layer at the circumference of the recess (43) and prevents penetration of reactive gas in the inner substrate. An outer substrate layer (42) of a second material lies tightly against the upper and lower outer surfaces of the first substrate (41).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Water cooling of stack type fuel cell. Smallest possible tolerances between recesses in cooling substrate. Small air gaps prevented between cooling tubes and body to give high measure of reliable heat transfer. Porous carbonaceous fibre material and binder which is deformable possessing either high plasticity or low elasticity is used for inner substrate.
A current produced from the fuel cell is controlled based on detected the electric power supplied to the power load. A reformed raw material a reformed fuel and the amount of air supply are controlled based on the output current to obtain a fuel cell output that varies with the change in the power load.    When the power load is a light load, the output of the fuel cell is also supplied to a heating unit to heat the fuel cell so that the current from the fuel cell will not decrease. Since the output current does not decrease, the electrode voltage of the fuel cell is prevented from excessively rising, and the electrodes are prevented from being deteriorated.
Appts. comprises spiral plates between an annular space defined by outer and inner tubes, to form a spiral heating bed and spiral reforming catalyst bed connected to a fuel feeder.    USE -   For alcohol fuels and hydrocarbon fuels.
(JP2604393-B2)      Fused carbonate fuel battery, comprises an electrolyte matrix with a fuel electrode and an oxidising electrode on opposite sides. A gas impermeable barrier plate is situated between each path so separating fuel intake and exit paths. A fuel reforming catalyst is present in the fuel intake passage.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduced amount of adhesion of electrolyte to reforming catalyst so catalyst activity is maintained over a long period of time and battery life is increased.
The device comprises a heat medium liq. heating means including a combustion burner, an evaporator and a reformer using the heated heat medium liq. for heat source, and a superheater using exhaust gas from the burner to superheat material gas at a temp. higher than the heating temp. of the evaporator and the reformer.    USE -   Reformed gas can be produced effectively.
Prodn. of an assembly is claimed comprising an electrolyte in the form of solid polymer contg. a network of fixed anions and moble cations, having at least one surface corresp. to an electrode. The electrode is composed of a metal deposit obtd. by at least one cycle comprising the following steps: (1) keeping in contact with the surface to be covered cations contg. at least one metal which is to form part of the metal deposit to allow exchange of the cations contg. the metal in the electrolyte with the mobile cations, and (2) reducing the cations contg. the metal to ppte. the metal in localised and controlled manner.    Also claimed is the obtd. assembly comprising, on at least one surface of the electrolyte, an electrode composed of a metal deposit comprising a first part (b) in the electrolyte, mixed with the solid polymer and formed of grains of a few nanometres in dia. having a concn. increasing towards the surface, the grains being in electrical contact near the surface; and a second part (a) outside the electrolyte, adhering to the electrolyte and to the first part.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells and electrolysis cells, e.g. for the electrolysis of water. Good adhesion is obtd. between the electrolyte and the electrodes; high specific surface and porosity are also achieved. The thickness of the metal deposit can be controlled to a small value.
An illuminated indication is included to discourage improper connection of the improved jumper cable apparatus to associated batteries. A clamp is securable to a jumper cable electrical conductive line wherein a spike is electrically associated with LED units such that the spike electrically associated with an associated clamp may be contacted to a remaining terminal of a battery once the three remaining jumper cable clamps are secured to indicate appropriate polarity connection of the jumper cable organisation.    Alternatively, LED elements are positioned within the handle of a battery connective clamp where an electrically isolated probe may be contacted to the remaining battery terminal for indication of appropriate polarity. The LED elements with inappropriate connection of the jumper cables of the instant invention will illuminate to indicate an inappropriate polarity.    ADVANTAGE -   Durable and reliable.
A fuel improving device, converting raw material gas to hydrogen-rich gas by heating an improved pipe filled with a catalyst, has a characteristic structure in which a cylinder surrounding the pipe is airtightly fitted to it and the device comprises cylinder and pipe as a heat pipe.    USE -   For an improving pipe to convert methanol, for instance, to hydrogen-rich gas.
The vehicle electrical load circuit protects the vehicle battery from being drained by limiting the duration for which the relatively heavy current load (10) can be operated. connected a clock counter (62) is indexed in one direction up to a max. count value and the recorded count is indexed in the opposite direction upon the load (10) being connected to the battery.    The load (10) is subsequently disconnected automatically when a min. count valve is reached. Pref. the counter (62) has two respective clock inputs for counting inthe forwards and backwards directions, each supplied via a respective AND gate (38,44) from a common clock source (70).    USE -   For preventing total drainage of battery charge.
The circuit has a voltage comparator (IC) with one input connected via a resistor (R5) between the load (RL) and the drain of the MOSFET (10) and with its second input connected to a constant voltage source (12) whose voltage is determined by the resistance of the load and of the on MOSFET.    The output of the comparator is connected to the MOSFET's gate via a delay circuit that delays briefly the blocking signal coming from the comparator's output. A diode (D2) is used for stabilising between ground and the MOSFET's gate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Low losses. Protects load connected to vehicle's battery and load's MOSFETs acting as output stage.
A repeating component within an electrochemical cell stack comprises a flat electrolyte matrix abutting a flat porous electrolyte reservoir plate to draw and store product water, a flat porous electrolysis cell electrolyte reservoir plate abutting the first plate and a second electrolyte matrix to draw water when operating in electrolysis cell mode.    There is a respective metal separator plate adjacent to each matrix and contacting a current conductor plate, with an insulating sheet adjacent to the conductor plate other side, and a cooling plate adjacent to at least one of the insulating sheets. There is pref. a porous PTFE sheet interposed between the reservoir plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic. for space applications, allows operation as either fuel or electrolysis cell stack, operating passively without fluid pumps in either mode.
In the turbocompressor system an appropriate amount of air can be supplied from a compressor to a load section in accordance with varying requirements of the load section. The pressure of air delivered from the compression can be maintained constant at all times irrespective of operating conditions of the system such as load-varying trnsitiona transitional operation or steady-state operation.    A turbine for driving the compressor is driven to run by exhaust gas discharged from the load section, and the output power of the turbine is controlled to be constant in various ways in a feedback manner.
A ferrous fuel material for a fuel cell consists at least partially of iron foil. Pref. the foil is coated with a hygroscopic substance, is perforated and is wound to a coil such that at least some of its holes intercommunicate along spiral paths.    A method of employing the fuel material in an iron redox element of a fuel cell involves (a) withdrawing part of the anodic soln. of the cell; (b) contacting and dissolving the fuel material in this soln. portion; (c) regenerating the soln. portion by reducing at least part of its ferric iron content; and (d) returning the regenerated soln. portion into the fuel cell.    A fuel cell, for use in the method, comprises a cathodic compartment, a cathodic soln. regeneration circuit, an anodic compartment and an anodic soln. regeneration circuit, the novelty being that the anodic soln. regeneration circuit includes a reactor contg. the fuel material .    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fuel cell is used for feeding an electric vehicle drive motor (claimed) The foil has a large surface/ volume ratio, so that a relatively small regeneration reactor can be used, and can be of poor quality, or scrap without affecting regeneration efficiency. Fe(OH)2 ppte. produced can be recycled for foil mfr.. (First major country equivalent to LU--87444-A)
Reformer comprises a reactor tube composed of inner and outer tubes charged with reforming catalyst, so that raw material gas fed into the outer tube from one end turns at the other end to enter into one end of the inner tube.    USE -   For fuel cell power generator systems.
The lid comprises at least two parallelepiped elements (3,4) obtained while moulding the lid, having the same height and being arranged parallel to each other along the longer sides of the battery. Each of the elements is connected with the other by at least a transverse piece (14), which is also obtained while moulding the lid and which functions as a handle.    The parallelepiped elements of the lid form a horizontal surface which helps in stacking the batteries. Equal volumes for each cell constituting the battery ensure that the battery can easily be lifted and transported thanks to a handle which is part of the lid.    ADVANTAGE -   No additional cost for assembly of handle.
A dual rechargeable battery is in the form of a modified fuel cell which can be charged not only by an electrolytic process but also by a fluid hydrogen source.    Pref. the battery consists of a stock of three types of foils, one being a coated proton-conductive foil and the other two being por-ous electrically conductive spacers through which the requisite air and the hydrogen source respectively are passed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery is esp. useful as a mobile energy source. It is simple to mfr. and has a moderate wt./power ratio.
(US4910101-A)      Stacked type fuel cell comprises (a) a stacked-cell body formed of a plurality of gas sepg. plates and plurality of single cells alternately stacked on each other, each of the single cells having an electrolyte matrix, anode and cathode electrode layers, disposed on opposing surfaces respectively, of the electrolyte matrix, an anode reserve plate (I) having at least one channel, serving as a fuel gas flow path, and a cathode reserve plate (II) having at least one channel serving as an oxidant gas flow path, (I) and (II) being respectively disposed on the reverse surfaces of the anode layer and the cathode layer, the fuel gas flow path and the oxidant gas flow paths comprising reaction gas flow paths; (b) reaction gas supply and reaction gas discharge manifolds disposed on side surfaces of (a); (c) at least one receiver extending from the side surface of (a), inside the discharge manifold, receiver (c) being adapted to receive surplus electrolyte falling along the side surface; and (d) a barrier disposed over (c) and adapted to catch an amt. of electrolyte discharged from at least one of the reserve plates, while partially opening the outlet of the corresponding one of the reaction gas flow paths.    ADVANTAGE -   The new cell can recover any electrolyte discharged from single cells, and return the recovered electrolyte to the single cells, without causing any substantial pressure loss. (First major country equivalent to J01146268-A) (9pp)
A fuel cell consists of a laminate comprising:- (1) electrolyte-holding material (1) having pores for holding an electrolyte, (2) anode (2) and a cathode (3) provided to sandwich the electrolyte -holding material(s), (3) separator (4) provided with grooves for feeding a gas to the anode (2) and cathode (3). The anode (2) is a ternary material comprising nickel as a main component and additionally cobalt and chromium oxide.    Pref. the ternary anode (2) is prepd. by mixing Ni, 3-20 atom % Co and 2-20 atom % Cr2O3 powders. The mixt. is then pref. heated and sintered.    USES/ADVANTAGE -   Improved creep resistance, sintering resistance and anode activity combined with maintenance of high performance over a long time.
One or several electrode structures are completely immersed in a an active paste, which has 25-60% by volume of active material, with a max. particle size of 0.04 mm., and a flow limit in the unvibrated state of 10 to 120 Pa and a plastic viscosity of 0.1 to 1 Pa.5 at 20 deg.C.. The paste has a plastic viscosity of 0.15 to 0.25 Pa.s.    The paste is subjected to vibrations either from its vibrating container or from a vibrator inserted into it. The vibration frequency lies between 40 and 125 Mz and has an amplitude of 0.1 to 1.5 mm..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For galvanic cells esp. vehicle electric battery. Few parts.
The anode compartment (20) is separated from the cathode compartment (18) by the membrane (22) which has ion-permeable regions to allow ion transfer between cathode and anode and gas-permeable regions to allow gases to transfer between cathode and anode compartments. The cathode (24) is disposed in contact with the membrane for generating electric current and the anode (26) is disposed in contact with the other side of the membrane for generating electric current.    The permeability of the gas-permeable and ion-permeable regions depends on the diameter of the pores in the membrane in these regions and on the degree of hydrophobicity of the pore walls. Further, the surface tensions of the cell liquids in the anode and cathode compartments must be sufficiently high that the liquids do not wet the hydrophobic material. Organic systems containing water or other solvent to give surface tension in excess of thirty-five dynes per cm. are suitable.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Battery or other chemical-electrical energy converter. Performance, reliability, and efficiency are increased by reduction of complexity and internal electrical resistance of system.
Reactor for methane reformation and carbon formation in which the method of reclaiming oxygen from carbon dioxide exhaust comprises (a) reacting the carbon dioxide with hydrogen to form a mixture of water and methane; and (b) electrolysing the water formm hydrogen gas and oxygen; and then (c) introducing the methane into a methane converter having a heated reactor vessel where the methane is converted to carbon and hydrogen; in which the improvement comprises (d) contacting the methane in the reactor vessel with a high temperature stable glass fibre material having a layer of a metallic catalyst thereon, at a temperature sufficient to cause the methane to catalytically decompose forming hydrogen gas and carbon.    The reaction vessel is heated to a temperature of 750 - 850 deg.C. The high temp. glass fibres have an average dia. of 2-10 microns, and are of fused quartz wool. The catalyst applied to the glass fibres is chosen from cobalt, nickel, iron and palladium in which the catalyst metal is present as a weight fraction of the glass fibres of 33-67%.    ADVANTAGE -   Method for converting methane gas producing hydrogen which is used in a fuel cell and carbon in which the operating temperatures are low, the carbon formed has a high density and the conversion efficiency remains high.
The male connector is electrically insulated from its associated circuit lead when the cable connector is not electrically connected to a second conector and is electrically connected to the circuit lead when the connector is electrically connected to a second connector. The male connector is preferably a pin and a female connector a socket comprising two terminals electrically insulated from one another. The pin is electrically/connected to one of the terminals of the female socket.    The other terminal of the female socket is electrically connected to the circuit lead with which the male pin and female socket are associated. The circuit between the pin and the circuit lead is completed through the associated socket when the pin of an identical cable connector makes contact with both terminals of the socket.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents electrical shorting.
(JP2595585-B2)      Fuel battery electrical power generating device comprises a desulphuriser in the fuel supply line, a modifier of the entrance to the anode for reforming desulphurised gas, a line for introducing gas discharged from anode back to modifier, on air compressor, or preheater for preheating air supplied to cathode and branched line supplying air to combustion chamber of modifier. H2 output from a secondary battery supplied in the circuit is connected to the fuel supply for supply to the anode.    ADVANTAGE -   Improved reliability of system. An emergency light is lit at the time of fuel battery stoppage.
(US4983470-A)      A molten carbonate fuel cell includes a protective material used to protect fuel cell components from a carbonate electrolyte or a substance formed therefrom. The protective material comprises a ceramic formed from an oxide which is chemically reactive with the electrolyte or substance formed from it, and includes at least one substance with a m.pt. lower than the cell's operating temp.    A method of protecting components of a molten carbonate fuel cell, based on the above protective material, is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The protective material prevents degradation of the reforming catalyst in a molten carbonate fuel cell power power generation system, protects the components of the fuel cell body from the electrolyte, and thus prevents degradation of performance and ensures a long service life. (First major country equivalent to J01140561-A) @(5pp Dwg.No.3/5)@
Fuel cell device comprises: a fuel cell (4) with oxidant and fuel gas electrodes (1,2) sandwiching an electrolyte layer (39; a half-cell (16) with an electrolyte layer (3a), single electrode (18) and gas chamber (19); a connecting electrolyte (17) between the electrolyte layers of the fuel cell and half cell; and a circuit (21) formed by the half-cell electrode and either electrode of the fuel cell which transfer electrolyte between fuel cell and half cell to control the amt. on compsn. of electrolyte in the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. with a molten carbonate fuel cell. Electrolyte replenishment to the fuel cell can be achieved quickly, uniformly and stbly over a long period of time (First major country equivalent to J01134868-A)
An electronically conducting polymer comprises (a) a polymer matrix, doped with (b) anions of a hetero-polyacid of formula Hn(XMyVy'Oz), n is 2-6, X is H, Cu, Be, Zn, B, Al, Ga, Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr, Th, Hf, Ce, N, P, As, V, Sb, Bi, Cr, S, Te, Mn, iodine, Fe, Co, Ni, Rh, Pt or a rare earth, M is Mo or W, y is 6-18, y' is 0-12, y+y' is 6-18, z is 24-70.    Pref. (a) the polymer is obtd. from pyrrole, thiophene, aniline, p-phenylene diamine, acetylene, benzene and substd. derivs. Poly(N-methylpyrrole), polyaniline and polypyrrole are pref, (b) X is P or Si. Pref. polyacids are H4(SiW12O40) and H3(PMo12O40). The amt. of polyacid anions is 0.01-0.3 anions w.r.t. 1 monomer unit in the polymer matrix.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A chemical or electrochemical catalyst formed by the doped polymer is claimed. Applns. include electrolysis of water in acid medium, oxidn. of alcohols in acid medium, oxidn. of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone and adipic acid, oxidn. of diols to diacids, oxidn. of methacrolein to methacrylic acid, synthesis of methyl formate by electrocatalytic oxidn. of methanol, as anode and cathode in acid medium in fuel cells, oxidn. of CO and redn. of NOx, as catalyst for purifying exhaust gases from internal combustion engines, hydrodesulphurisation of hydrocarbons, oxidn. of benzene to phenol, prepn. of satd. carbonyl cpds.; dehydration of alcohols to olefins and as protonic conductors for membranes in electrolysers or fuel cells etc. The hetero-polyacids and anions are immobilised in a solid conducting phase, thus increasing the catalytic effect.
The jumper lead consists of a laminated copper strip assembly having a lead coated contact surface at one end for making disconnectable contact with a battery lug using a bolt. One of the copper lamination layers has electrical insulation which extends as far as the contact face. The copper lamination consists of a flat woven braid of copper wire (1) one end (2) of which is attached to the lug by a bolt which extends through openings (3) in the band. The portion (5) of the strip in the vicinity of the opening has a surface layer of lead or a lead-bearing copper alloy which defines a contact shoe having a contact surface for making electrical contact with the lug of the cell.    The portion of the connector lying intermediate the end termination portions is coated with a vulcanised rubber sheath (8). The contact shoe has a stepped portion (9) to accommodate the rubber sheath is cast onto the coppe braid and is pressed into position.
Pb-Sb alloy for casting active material supports for Pb accumulators contains in wt.% 0.5-2.7 Sb; 0.02-0.12 As: 0.015-0.03 Se; 0.0015-0.01 Ni; balance Pb, plus impurities produced during prodn. of the alloy.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. for starter batteries of combustion engines. Despite a low Sb content, the alloy can be cast at high speed in an uncoated mould and is free from cracking.
Creepage of molten carbonate electrolyte at the negative end of a fuel cell stack is blocked by placing a thin layer of material which is poorly wetted by the electrolyte adjacent the outer surface of the anode plate at the negative end of the stack. The thin layer is larger than the plate so that it extends beyond the plate on all sides and prevents electrolyte creepage.    The thin layer is pref. a foil of Au or Au-Pd.    A pair of similar ceramic members is placed adjacent the anode plate pref. aligned with the plate, and the thin layer is placed between the ceramic members; the thin layer also extends
The mounting method uses a seat post frame tube and a battery of proper size to permit placement within the seat post frame tube. An elastic plug of proper size permits placement within the seat post frame tube. The elastic plug is expanded sufficiently to wedge the plug in the seat post frame tube and an insulated wire is connected to one terminal of the battery.    The other terminal of the battery is connected to the inside wall of the seat post frame tube. The frame is made one of the electrical conductors and the insulated wire is run out of the seat post frame tube. The battery and the elastic plug is placed in the frame tube in such a manner that when the elastic plug is caused to wedge in the frame tube, the battery will be supported by the plug.
(JP2567633-B2)      Bundling a fuel battery stack comprises alternately laminating single cells and carbonaceous gas sepn. plates in a large number, applying pressure to above a regulation value, allowing battery to discharge, then returning pressure gradually to regulation value.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in phosphoric acid fuel cell assembly. Improved battery life is obtd..
A reformer produces reformed gas by heating a reforming catalyst to reform the reforming material to a hydrogen enriched gas and feeding the reformed gas to the anode of the fuel battery. A flame burning burner burns fuel and a catalyst heating burner burns anode exhaust gas discharges from the battery.    The catalyst burning burner is heated by the flame burning burner and reaches a temp. higher than the complete oxidn. temp. of the reforming material so that the reforming gas contg. non-reformed components burns well at the time of changing over from the fuel to reformed gas.    ADVANTAGE -   The flame burning burner is used for prodn. of reforming gas and the catalyst burning burner is used for heating to proceed the reforming reaction.
(JP2670607-B2)      The fuel cell, has a phosphorus battery having a fuel and air electrodes and interposed phosphorus acid electrolyte.    USE -   The fuel cell is used in generating plant with methanol fuel.    ADVANTAGE -   Circulation system of heat-carrier oil is unnecessary and steam for the fuel-battery start-up heating can be given from a steam producer.
(JP2595579-B2)      Gases discharged from anode and cathode of fuel cell or supplied to modifier combustion chamber, the gases from cathode being modified and the gases from the anode being supplied as fuel. Heat is recovered as gases are discharged from combustion chamber of modifier and supplied to a steam separator to separate gas and water containing CO2. The CO2 is then supplied to the cathode as reformed natural gas is supplied to anode and the process is repeated continuously.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Process is used for electrical power generating device of fusion carbonate type battery. The differential pressure and voltage between the anode and cathode is zero.
A connecting terminal assembly comprises a bush made from lead or lead alloy, buried in a cover of the battery in the same process as when the cover is moulded and including a hole into which a pole is fitted. A connecting terminal is made by press working a sheet of metal, except for lead or lead alloy, having good electrical conductivity, having at least one bolt-insertion hole and a space for accommodating a nut, fixed to the upper portion of the bush.    This has a strength resistive to a torque of 40 kg-cm or more caused by a bolt being inserted into the bolt-insertion hole. The connecting terminal is coated with material having good fixability with lead and lead alloy, having good electric conductivity. The connecting terminal is coated with material having anti-corrosivity and good electrical conductivity.    USE -   Compact lead-acid storage battery e.g. for use in motorcycle. (First major country equivalent to J01124954)
A new circuit limits the discharge of the starter battery so that the battery always has sufficient energy to start the vehicle. The circuit monitors the voltage after the ignition key has been removed and operates a relay when the voltage drops below a given limit.    The relay disconnects the battery. Only when the engine is next required is the battery reconnected for starting. The circuit draws less than 30 mA.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For vehicle's starter battery, esp. car's. Unrestricted use of all electrical parts. Prevention of full discharge.
Appts. to reform fuel for fuel cells comprises a double-structured reforming reaction tube charged with a reforming catalyst. The tube has a high temp. part, an inlet for a raw material gas, a low temp. part, and an outlet for reformed gas.    USE -   For fuel cells.
The apparatus includes an electrolyte refilling unit for refilling electrolyte to a fuel cell positioned at the edge of a multilayer body. The multilayer body is constituted by an oxidation gas lateral electrode and a fuel gas lateral electrode provided on either side of an electrolyte layer via a separator. A gasket made of ion conductivity material is interposed at the side of the multilayer body. Each fuel cell is equipped with agas manifoldwhich supplies oxidation gas and fuel gas. The electrolyte refilled to the electrolyte layer of the fuel cell, is conveyed by electro- chemical driving force to the negative material via the ion conductive coupling bridge for coupling the electrolyte layers of an adjacent fuel cell. The electrolyte layer of each fuel cell in the multilayer body is refilled in a specific order.    ADVANTAGE -   Simplifies filling of electrolyte. Maintains favourable characteristics for long periods.
(JP2621240-B2)      An electrolyte cell consists of an electrolyte plate (1) laminated between a cathode (2) and an anode (3). The electrolyte cells are separated by a separator (4). Fuel gas (FG) and oxidation gas (OG) are supplied to the electricity generation portion (I) of the fuel cell. The gases flow on opposite sides of the separators (4) in opposite directions. A preheating portion (II) performs heat exchange between the fuel and oxidation gases. The preheating portion contains heat transmission stimulators which are situated at both end of the separators.    USE -   Use as a fuel battery.    ADVANTAGE -   Electrical generation portion provides improved gas flow rate through the cell. Gas preheater is not necessary.
The solid oxide fuel cell generator (1) has a multiplicity of electrically connected solid oxide fuel cells (2), where a fuel gas is passed over one side of the cells and a gaseous source of oxygen is passed over the other side. The fuel is consumed and heat and electricity are generated. The cells (2) are connected in the configuration of a spiral, a number of concentric circles, or folded rows where the outside periphery of the folded rows is circular.    The flow of the gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of the generator is separately controlled relative to the flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the centre of the generator. The flow of said gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the periphery of said generator is greater than the flow of the gaseous source of oxygen to those cells that are at the centre of the generator.    ADVANTAGE -   Reduces temperature gradient between cells in generator.
The electrolyte in the fuel cell is made from a glass which provides a conducting path for hydrogen ions but no path for electrons. The glass is also absolutely impervious to gas, and is resistant to acids and oxidants. The electrodes for air and fuel are arranged one on each side of the electrolyte, and are formed into a corrugated structure.    Several fuel cells are stacked together, and metal foils form the separators between individual fuel cells. At each end of the cells are sealed using a non-conducting material, typically PTFE. The reaction spaces are formed by the corrugated structure. The fuel enters through ducts in the seals.    ADVANTAGE -   Economic to mfr. and giving high mechanical strength and operational efficiency.
The trolley includes a housing mounted on a pair of wheels and including switches, connected in use between the batteries and a pair of outlet cables or terminals of the trolley. The switch can be operated between a first position in which the batteries are connected in series and a second position in which the batteries are either connected in parallel or one battery is disconnected.    The voltage across the outlet cables or terminals is equal to or double the voltage of a single battery when the switch is in the second or first position, respectively. The switch can be moved to a third position in which both batteries are electrically isolated from the outlet cables or terminals.    USE -   For commercial vehicles and electrically started railway vehicles.
A high-temp. solid electrolyte electrochemical cell configuration comprises a plurality of elongated electrochemical cells, which have inner and outer electrodes, with solid electrolyte in between. The cells are electronically connected by porous, electronically conductive, fibrous strips. The improvement which the invention provides is that the fibrous strips are 80-95% porous, and comprise flexible,electronically conductive fibres which are either Ni or Co fibres bonded together and coated with a refractory oxide. The fibrous strips electronically connect the inner electrode of one cell to the outer electrode of the next cell, thorugh interconnection material disposed on the inner electrodes. The strips also electronically connect the outer electrode of one cell to the outer electrode of the next cell. The refractory oxide is effective in preventing additional bonding of fibres during cell operation at high temps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The cell configuration and fibrous connectors described are used in high-temp. fuel cells. The connecting strips are heat and time-stable, and do not increase shear- and transverse-loading on the fuel cell components during operation at about 1000 deg.C.
The anti-theft device is positioned on top of a battery for an automobile or the like which is provided with positive and negative terminals. The anti-theft device is located within a housing having upper and lower sections. The lower section has an opening for receiving the positive pole and a battery clamp. The anti-theft device receives a positive pole of the battery. The battery clamp fits over the positive pole. The anti-theft device includes a key actuated switch connected by a main power source to a new positive pole. This main power source is switch controlled.    A constant power supply is connected to a resistor and by electrical connections to the key actuated switch through the positive pole of the battery. By timely use of the key actuated switch, the anti-theft device can be turned on and off to secure the automotive vehicle.
An apparatus for electrochemical vapour coating of the outside of a porous SOFC tube having open and closed ends and interconnector and electrolyte layers, comprises a means of directing an oxidant gas into and along the tube, a means of heating the tube uniformly at a high temp., and a separate means of sequentially directing gases for forming interconnector and electrolyte layers over an outer surface so that they react with the oxidant to form these layers.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A simpler and cheaper apparatus for making solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is provided. Tubes with uniform multilayers of high quality are obtained. The difficulties of the prior art double EVD coating process are circumvented, and the process effectively coats conductive layers on the support tube/air electrode structures.
High-temp. solid electrolyte flat cell stack includes: an inner electrode (2) with interior gas supply conduits (3) along its axial length; electrolyte (5) contacting the inner electrode; and an exterior electrode (8) contacting the electrolyte. A major portion of the inner electrode top surface (7) is covered by an interconnect material (6) and each cell has at least one elongated, conductive, flexible, porous, metal fibre strip (9) connected to the inner electrode via the interconnect material.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of metal fibre current collector in a flat plate configuration permits the stack to be started up and operated without sensitivity to thermal gradients and mechanical stresses.
The battery connector attachment method comprises providing a battery connector having a hole penetrating through and adapted to fit around the terminal post. The interior surface of the hole bears a threading helix having a diameter less than that of the terminal post.    The connector is screwed onto the terminal post for threading the terminal post, the displaced metal of the terminal post being seated against the interior of the connector hole for improving the electrical conductance. A sheet of lead is wrapped about the terminal post prior to screwing the connector.
(JP2658082-B2)      Molten carbonate fuel cell for power source obtained by sandwiching electrolyte using cathode and anode, and supplying oxygen gas to cathode and fuel gas to anode.    ADVANTAGE -   The surface area of electrode can be greatly increased.
A fuel cell power plant comprises a fuel cell stack power section, (2) cooled by a water circulation heat exchange loop (10) also contg. a steam separator (14). A turbo-generator (22) driven by the steam produces electric power and the water from the steam separator is recirculated to the stack. A reformer (46) converts raw hydrocarbon to H-rich fuel gas for the cell anodes (14), and a boiler (42) produces steam at or above 400 deg.F, which is transported to the reformer at above 200 psi.. Hydrocarbon is mixed with the steam and transported by duct to the reformer, the fuel gas transported from thence at above 200 psi to the anode and oxidant gas at the same pressure supplied the the fuel cell cathodes (6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fuel cell power plant which operates at higher pressures and thus with higher efficiency and power density than usual, is provided. The acid electrolyte cells operate at optimum temps.. The reformer steam boiler is partly fired by raw fuel and the reformer and coolant steam systems are quite independent.
Jet air tubes are supported and maintained in a spaced matrix array by a positioning/insertion assembly for insertion in respective tubes of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in the assembly of an SOFC module. The positioning/insertion assembly includes planar, elongated, linear vanes which are pivotally mounted at each end to a support frame.    The vanes, which each include spaced slots along the facing edges, may be pivotally displaced from a generally vertical orietubetation. Each jet air is positioned within and engaged by, the aligned slots of paired upper and lower vanes to facilitate their insertion in respective aligned SOFC tubes arranged in a matrix array, to an inclined orientation. The jet air tubes may be removed from the positioning/insertion assembly after being inserted in the SOFC tubes.
Appts. comprises reforming pipes disposed in a reforming vessel, each reforming pipe composed of an inner and outer tubes, catalyst bed formed between the tubes and return path extending from one end of the pipe to that of the adjacent pipe, and perforated plates, partitioning the annular space formed between the reforming pipe and sleeve tube covering the pipe.    USE -   For reforming fuel gases for fuel cells.
Gas reformer appts. comprises reforming pipes in a reforming vessel. Each reforming pipe comprises inner and outer tubes, with catalyst bed formed between the tubes and return path extending from one end of the pipe to that of the adjacent pipe.    USE -   Used for reforming fuel gases for fuel cells.
(JP2570771-B2)      Cooling a fuel cell comprises passing an oxidising gas to the cathode side of a tile. A groove, acting as a gas flow path is provided at each side of a laminated separator, and through which, the fuel gas is transferred to the anode side. The density of grooves either side of the centre of the separator is lower than at the centre, to allow for reduced gas flow at the periphery. As the oxidising and fuel gases flow over the separator, the amt. of gas flow is regulated, to keep the tile cool.    ADVANTAGE -   The temp. distribution across the separator is more uniform, and the gas flow rates are optimised, thus leading to very large increases in efficiency.
Heat-resistant parts are obtd. by coating surface of heat-resisting alloy base with metallic composite oxide La1-xM1xM2O3 (M1 is alkali earth metal; M2 is Co, Fe, Mn, Ni or Cr, and x is 0 to less than 1).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Heat-proof electrically conductive parts suitably used for collector or connector, can be obtd.
(JP2622261-B2)      A solid electrolyte fuel cell has fuel and air electrodes on both sides of the electrolyte tank. A powder slurry is coated on the surface of a tubular object, then baked.    USE -   Used in an oxygen sensor.    ADVANTAGE -   Battery diameter can be reduced. Diffusion of air to the air electrode is simplified.
Fuel cells stacked one on top of the other each comprise a solid polymer electrolyte membrane on the anode side of which is a hydrogen flow field plate and on the cathode side of which is an oxygen flow field plate, the latter being permeable to water flow. Porous gas sealing plates form water filled barriers to reactant gas passage, the sealing plates surrounding and abutting the marginal edges of adjacent oxygen flow field plates. The oxygen flow field plates are operable to remove water from the surfaces of porous carbonized wetproofed paper sheets abutting the cathode surfaces of the membranes and are also operable by reason of oxygen reactant pressure to pass the removed water into the porous gas sealing plates. Water passageways in the stack communicate with all the porous gas sealing plates and operate to duct water from them to the end of the stack for removal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Invention is an improved solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system which uses passive water management to remove product water from the cells to prevent smothering of the cathode by product water collecting on the surface of the electrolyte membranes. The compact assembly is suitable for use in the form of a back-pack for space station applications or the like.
The fuel cells are arranged as a stack. Each fuel cell has a fuel electrode to which gaseous hydrogen is fed, an oxygen electrode to which oxygen is fed, an ion exchange membrane sandwiched between, with a fuel distribution member for supplying fuel to the fuel electrode and an oxygen distribution member for supplying oxygen to the oxygen electrode. These fuel cells have a liquid-permeable electricity-conductive member in the form of a layer for storage and transport of water produced in the fuel cell.    The fluid-permeable member is separated from the electrodes and the fuel cell is contained between outer impermeable sheets. The fuel cell assembly is part of a system that also removes heat from the assembly during its operation. The heat removal is accomplished alternately by evaporative cooling, direct air cooling, cooling with recirculating liquid or cooling by direct heat conduction to a heat sink.    USE -   Fuel cell for generating electricity by using an ion exchange membrane as electrolyte. ck
Electricity is generated by: forming a barrier of non-dissolvable, O2-permeable material between a gas space and a bath of molten metal; supplying O2 to the gas space; adding a solid C fuel to the molten metal so that CO is formed with the O2 passing through the wall; recovering the CO; and drawing current from a positive electrode applied to the wall surface adjacent the gas space and a negative electrode immersed in the bath.    The molten metal is pref. Fe.    ADVANTAGE -   Process is efficient and be carried out efficiently on a large scale; it also produces a useful CO by-product.
The clamp includes a pair of clamp members, each of which includes a handle portion to which a jaw portion is joined. The jaw portions of the clamp members are normally biased to a closed position by an internally located spring and are movable to an open position against the action of the spring for being mounted in clamping engagement on a terminal of a battery. The jaw portions of the clamp members are formed in angular disposition relative to the handle portions.    Thus, the angled jaw portions, when placed in contact with a top-mounted terminal cause the handle portions to extend upwardly in inclined relation with respect to the vertical so as to be more readily grasped by the user of the battery booster cable. When the clamp is to be secured to a side-mounted battery terminal, the clamp is located such that the jaw portions extend downwardly in inclined relation and are thus more easily attachable to the side terminal.    ADVANTAGE -   Readily graspable and easily attachable.
Modular solid oxide fuel cell comprises: a solid oxide fuel cell for converting fuel gas energy to dc. energy; a structural device for the cell providing a fuel gas delivery tube, oxidant gas delivery tube and exhaust gas manifold; and coupling/ support devices for coupling the delivery tubes to the cell. Exhaust gas from the cell exits through the exhaust gas manifold.    ADVANTAGE -   Arrangement is efficient, low cost and easily fabricated and provides integrated and common manifolding, bussing and structural support for a cell stack.
Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell system has solid polymer electrolyte membrane (2) having anode and cathode catalyst layers (4,6) on opposite sides. Adjacent the anode catalyst layer (6) is a porous anode flow field plate (8) including a continuous basal part (14) and a contoured face (12) face including lands abutting the anode catalyst and intervening grooves defining a flow path for gaseous Water is pumped into the basal part of the plate at a pressure near anode reactant gas pressure, the water migrating to the lands in continuous fashion to be absorbed into the electrolyte membrane. The anode flow field plate thus provides a moist surface from which water will evaporate to cool the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Cell system is able to maintain the electrolyte membrane in a suitably moist condition and to keep the cell cool by evaporating water from the anode side of the cells, the prevention of cell dry-out and cell cooling being provided by a common water source.
The water coolant circulation system comprises: (1) a cooling conduit to circulate water coolant in heat exchange relationship with fuel cells in a power section of the power plant, (2) a steam separator separating steam from water coolant, (3) first conduit to duct water coolant and steam from cooling conduit to steam seaprator, (4) second conduit to duct oxygen depleted water from steam separator back to cooling conduit, (5) means to add oxygen-rich makeup water to oxygen-depleted water and (6) flow control means to control water flow in the system and to adjust proportion of oxygen-rich makeup water mixing with oxygen-depleted water coolant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement can be used to control the oxygen concentration in water employed to cool fuel cell power plants. The oxygen of water enters the cooling conduit in a range which minimises corrosion and optimises water chemistry.
The automated handling apparatus includes an endless drive unit having a number of upstanding pockets which open to receive the plates and to assemble a predetermined number of them side by side in a vertically arranged stack. The drive unit includes a single revolution clutch which permits the drive unit to move a predetermined amount and then stop each time it is signaled by a controller that the proper number of plates has been inserted into a particular pocket.    Movement of the drive unit is interrupted while the plates are being inserted into the pockets and commences again when the pockets are loaded. The stacks of plates then are blocked and centred as they move through the apparatus in their pockets.
The electrolyte comprises an oxide of Sr and Ce, and further contg. at least one oxide of a metal selected from Y, Sc, Yb, Nd, Mg, Pr, and Zn, where, a metal element having an ion radius larger than that of Sr partially substitutes for Sr.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides SrCeO3 base solid electrolyte with improved temp. properties and increased conductivity. Thus, an effective electrolyte suitable for fuel cells, sensors such as H2 sensor, and CO sensor, is provided.
New proton conductive solid electrolyte consists of barium oxide, cerium oxide, and the oxide of Y, Sc, Yb, Nd, Mg, Pr or Zn. Part of cerium is replaced by a metal element which can combine ionically with oxygen weaker than cerium, pref., Zr, Ti, Hf, Si, Ge, Pb or Sn.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for fuel cells or H2, H2O, NOx or CO sensors. The ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte is less dependent on temp.    Typically, BaCe0.8Zr0.1Nd0.1O3-a was prepd. as follows 197.35 g BaCO3, 137.70 g CeO2, 12.32 g ZrO2, and 16.28 g Nd2O3 were mixed in a ball mill and calcined at 1300 deg. C for 10 hrs. The mixt. was moulded and fired at 1400-1500 deg. C for 12 hrs. The resultant solid electrolyte sinter had an almost constant conductivity of about 3 x 10 power(-3) S/cm in the range of 670-870 deg. C.
Electrical power supply for an electrolytic gas e.g. hydrogen generator comprises (a) an input network provided with a first rectifying-flattening circuit for generating a DC voltage from an AC power source voltage input to it; and (b) and output network provided with a switching circuit for generating a pulse voltage having a predetermined frequency from the DC voltage supplied from the input network; and (c) a second rectifying-flattening circuit for transforming the pulse voltage into the DC voltage and for supplying this DC voltage to an electrode of the electrolytic cell.    ADVANTAGE -   The electrical power supply can be very small sized, and the apparatus significantly reduced in cost, and the useful lifetime of the apparatus is increased, and energy is saved, and the control of the voltage applied to electrodes in the electrolytic cell is very accurately and stably provdied with a good response.
Fuel cell for reacting an oxidising agent comprising O2 gas and a fuel, pref. a metal, comprising an anode, cathode, and electrolyte, at least one electrode being formed of an aniline polymer.    A pref. polymer is polyaniline (not claimed). Sec. cell has at least one electrode formed from an aniline polymer, the cell has high reversibility, esp. when the cell pH is controlled to 1-11 esp. 2-10 and pref. 2-6.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell has good electrochemical performance.
In a device for forming gas for fuel cell by vaporising and reforming mixt. of methanol and water, a passage is formed in the outer wall of the container of the device for supplying the mixt.    ADVANTAGE -   Since the mixt. is preheated gas it is formed rapidly and is effective partic. in cold climate.
Appts. comprises: a first catalysed electrode (1) permeable to O2 but impermeable to liq.; second catalysed electrode (2); a connection (7,8) to each electrode; and a housing (3,4,5) arranged such that when partially immersed in a liq. mixt. (11) of fuel and electrolyte, the mixt. is able to circulate freely in contact with one side of the first electrode and both sides of the second electrode and the other side of the first electrode is exposed to the air.    USE -   As e.g. a teaching aid or as a small commercial fuel cell for a light, radio etc.
In a redox battery with a negative electrode including a catalyst for accelerating in Cr3+/Cr2+ redox process, the novelty is that the catalyst is a combination of Au, Tl, Pb and Bi.    Pref. the catalyst is in the form of a surface coating providing surface concns. of 0.02-1 mg/sq.cm. Au, 0.2-40 mg/sw.cm. Tl, 0.2-10mg/sq.cm. Pb and 0.2-10 mg/sq.cm. Bi.    ADVANTAGE -   The current yield of the Cr3+/Cr2+ redox reaction is optimised and thus the entire system has extremely high energy efficiency.
(A) Hydrogen and oxygen are removed from the freely moving electrolyes of H2/O2 fuel cell batteries operating in gravity-free space by addn. to the electrolytes of one of the gaseous reactants to adjust the H2:O2 mol ratio to 2:1 and then catalytic reaction of the H2 and O2 to water.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process includes, in the electrolyte circuit (1) of the battery (2), a gas recombiner (3) with a redox electrode (6), a reference electrode (7), H2 and O2 supplies (8,9) and a catalyst (10) for reacting H2 with O2.    ADVANTAGE -   The process removes H2 and O2 from the electrolytes under gravity-free conditions, e.g. when the battery is used in spacecraft.
(A) Hydrogen and oxygen are removed from the freely moving electrolytes of H2/O2 fuel cell batteries operating in gravity-free space by catalytic reaction to form H2O, the excess of one of the gaseous reactants in the electrolytes beyond the 2:1 H2:O2 mol ratio, being reacted electrochemically at a gas consuming electrode.    (B) Appts. for carrying out the process includes, in the electrolyte circuit (1) of the battery (2), a gas recombiner (3) with a catalyst (6) for H2/O2 reaction, a gas consuming electrode and a reference electrode (7), a potentiostat (8) and a counter electrode.    ADVANTAGE -   The process removes hydrogen and oxygen from the electrolytes under gravity-free conditions, e.g. when the battery is used in spacecraft.
The fuel cell unit has a closed container partially filled with an electrolyte. The space above the electrolyte is subdivided into two spaces. On the negative electrode an anodic oxidation of the fuel takes place. On the positive pole a cathodic reduction of the oxidation agent occurs. The reaction product is continuously conveyed away.
An electrolyte creepage barrier for a molten carbonate fuel cell comprises:- (1) a relatively thin layer of a predetermined material which is poorly wet by the electrode disposed in such a way as to substantially prevent electrolyte creepage at a negative end of the fuel cell. (2) a pair of ceramic members between which is placed the thin layer.    The relatively thin layer of predetermined material of the creepage barrier is pref. gold or gold-palladium foil.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A means is provided of preventing a dramatic increase in cell resistance and hence a rapid and non-recoverable drop in cell voltage, during cell usage.
Thermoelectric conversion cell comprises: spaced solid electrodes with an H ion-permeable electrolyte between; H2 gas supply to one electrode; and a reactant supply to the other electrode which reacts with H2 and induces a current flow between the electrodes.    Pref. the reactant is a molten metal which forms a metal hydride with the H2; the hydride is then thermally decomposed back to H2 and molten metal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in space technology. Reactants are regenerated, electrodes and electrolytes do not become fouled or plugged and the cell has a high current to wt. ratio.
Method of operating a hydrogen/halogen fuel cell comprises introducing humidified H2 fuel and halogen oxidant into the anode and cathode chambers respectively, catalytically dissociating the H2 into ions, transporting these through a solid polymer electrolyte membrane to the cathode, and passing the electrons through the external circuit. The oxidant reacts with H+ at the catalytic cathode to give acid. Prior humidification of the H2(32) gives excess which is protonically pumped to the cathode with the H+, thus diluting the cathode acid.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method improves the operating conditions of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells by diluting the acid building up at the cathode. High acid concns. increase the membrane resistance, leading to voltage loss, and also accelerate voltage decay by migrating to the anode and degrading the catalyst.
Material comprises the alloy contg. Fe, Cr, and Ni, with K=1400-1800, where K=CFexCCrx0.2CNi2, (CFe, CCr, and CNi are respectively the contents of Fe, Cr, and Ni), pref., K=1450-1700.    USE -   For molten carbonate type fuel cells, showing excellent corrosion resistance in harsh environment in the cells.
Lithium-and aluminium-salts are dissolved in solvent and mixed with reaction agent (pref. soln. contg. ammonium carbonate). After synthesising two or more lithium cpds. these are burnt at temp of over m.pt. of synthesised lithium cpd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Lithium aluminate with large surface area can be produced. Lithium aluminate is efficient as unequal system catalyst carrier. Also useful for liq. holding material or high alkali holding material e.g. electrolyte of fused carbonate type fuel cell.    In an example, ammonium carbonate 1 hydrate of 190.2 g was dissolved in 500 cc distilled water. In other container, lithium nitrate of 52.3 g and aluminium nitrate 9 hydrate of 284.5 g were dissolved in 300 ml distilled water. To soln. ammonium carbonate soln. was dropped with stirring. After maturing overnight, this was dried at 120 deg. C and burnt at 800 deg. C in air for 36 hrs. Lithium aluminate of high specific surface area of 50-70 m2/g was obtd. Also its average grain dia. was small e.g. 100 Angstrom.
The two end cells (1,2; 5,6) at both ends of the battery are connected in parallel and have their reaction gases passed through them sequentially. The inert gases are evolved in an amount dependent upon the current flowing in both the end cells, the inert gases being vented in a controlled manner via a vent in the last cell.    The current may be measured by a current transformer. The vent valve is pref. electromagnetically controlled.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel cells using oxygen and hydrogen as reacting gases and nickel anodes. Increased effective life. Inert gas removal practically independent of battery voltage.
Method for removing ammonia from water in a fuel cell power plant having a closed water circulating system, which ammonia is present in the water in concentrations of less than about 400 ppm by weight, comprises (a) transferring ammonia, carbon dioxide, and other non-condensible gases from a reformed hydrogen rich fuel gas initially contg. such non-condensible gases, to water in the system which is initially low in such gases, by passing the hydrogen rich fuel gas through a spray of the system water thereby creating a supply of contaminated system water contg. ammonia contaminants in amts. of less than about 400 ppm by weight; (b) performing two successive steam stripping operations on the contaminated system water, while maintaining the latter at the same pH, to transfer major amounts of the ammonia from the system water to a steam carrier, (c) combining the ammonia-laden steam from the two steam stripping operations and passing the combined steam through a condenser to condense water out of the ammonia-laden steam; and (d) venting ammonia-laden steam from the condenser and out of the water circulating system, the vented steam having a water content which is less than the amount of product water formed in the fuel cells whereby externally sourced make-up water is not normally required to operate the power plant.    ADVANTAGE -   The ammonia level in the water can be reduced to less than 30ppm by volume by the steam stripping, and this lower level of ammonia can then be removed by demineralisation beds in the system.
An electrochemical cell includes an immobile electrolyte, electrodes and gas areas. The cell is cooled by internal vapourisation of a liq. or aerosol in one of the chambers adjacent to the electrodes. The liq. to be vapourised is pref. an aerosol, which is fed into the cell using a gas stream. A porous electrolyte matrix is fed straight to the liq.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell is light and compact.
Div. ex. 4254190, 4554222 Cip 4218520, 4305999, 4369234, 4416954, 4554222 (+16.3.79, 12.7.76, 18.8.80, 26.2.81, 29.9.82, 18.11.85-US-020967, 704452, 179274, 238626, 482472, 799317).    Electric power is generated by: passing a slurry of reactive metal particles in an electrolyte soln. past an inert anode current collector (7); storing reactive metal particles away from the electrolyte; and supplying them to the slurry on demand, the reactive metal being a metal or alloy of Al, Li, Na, Mg or Ca. Reactive metal is consumed at the anode and water at the cathode and H2 (15) is evolved at the cathode (5).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In marine applications, electric vehicle propulsion etc. High energy density power is provided from an economically competitive fuel.
A porous electrode for use as a cathode in electrochemical cells comprises a porous catalytically active layer on a porous conductive substrate. The novelty is that the active layer is derived from non-noble metals. The electrodes may be formed by any of three alternative methods, whereby the electrode, once produced, will in all events have a catalytically active layer on a porous conductive substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As electrodes for fuel cells (claimed) and metal-air cells. Also as gassing inhibitors in rechargeable alkaline zinc/manganese dioxide cells, as well as in other primary or secondary alkaline cells. Operating characteristics compare favourably with prior art electrodes having noble metal catalysis but mfg. costs are significantly reduced.
Electrolyte membranes comprise an ionic conductor (I), a liq. ionic capillary-condensed conductor (II) or an ion-exchange resin (III) immobilised in the pores of a porous solid polymer membrane which has a thickness of 0.1-50 (pref. 0.1-25)microns, a porosity of 40-90 (pref. 60-90)%, a tensile strength of not less than 200 (500 pref.) Kg/cm2 and an ave. dia. of permeable pores of 0.001-0.1 (pref. 0.005-0.05) microns. A method of prepn. of an electrolyte membrane is claimed (see below).    USES -   The membrane is used in fuel cells, batteries, electrochromic devices, sensors, high efficiency capacitors, brine electrolysis, water hdyrolysis, donnan dialysis and memory devices. Low electric resistance and high mechanical strength membranes are required.
Reformer has a plurality of main units, each of which has a combustor with catalyst and a reforming reactor with catalyst. The combustor is separated from the reforming reactor by a heat conductive partition. Fuel is supplied to each combustor through a dispersion plate forming part of an auxiliary unit sandwiched between each main unit. Main and auxiliary units contain passages for flow of raw gas, fuel, air, reformed gas and burnt gas, and are stacked together to form a single element.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The reformer is used to produce hydrogen from methane and steam. its porous fuel dispersion plates and heat conductive partitions enable combustion and reforming to take place at lower temps. than in conventional reformers.
A module for the connection of a battery of electrochemical cells, specially of fuel cells with a pressure plate (1), made of plastic or plastic coated metal, a cell frame (2,3) and an elastomer frame (10) has a copper plate (7) with a copper lug (11) for the external current connection. Two electrodes (4,5) are connected to the plate (7) by corrugated contact sheets (8,9) which are welded to the latter. The spaces (12,13) are filled with a fluid to generate a pressure. The contact sheets are made e.g. of nickel with 1mm corrugations. The reactants (H2,O2) are supplied at a pressure of 2 bar, and the pressure medium (N2) at 3 bar.    ADVANTAGE -   This module permits an operation at a higher ambient pressure. The cells of a stack can be connected in parallel.
The vehicle battery cable clamp, (6) fitted to one of the battery terminals (2) for securing the associated lead cables (12, 13, 12'), has a clamping screw (7) which is tightened to provide a secure electrical contact. The screw extends parallel to a tangent of the battery terminal (2). The cable clamp has a cable insertion socket (10) which is aligned so that its longitudinal axis is at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees relative to the axis of the clamping screw (7). Pref. the clamp (6) has 2 adjacent cable insertion sockets (10,11), each extending at an acute angle e.g. 45 degrees, to the axis of the clamping screw (7).    ADVANTAGE -   Allows easy access to clamping screw and prevents kinking of battery lead cable.
The mounting member of the connector is connectable to a terminal post of a battery and includes a mounting magnetic section. Electricity may be conducted between the battery terminal and the contact member of the connector.    The contact member has connected to it an electric lead, an electrical conductive section conducting electricity to the electric lead. A magnetic or magnetically attractive section couples the contact member to the mounting member such that electricity may be conducted from the battery terminal post to electric lead.    ADVANTAGE -   Overcomes deficiencies of corrosion and connection of power cable working loose resulting in poor contact hence current flow.
A thermoelectrochemical current-generating cell comprises PbO cathode (24) and PbSO4 anode (26) in their compartments (18, 20), sepd. by a common ion permeable wall (22), and with external connections, a concn. H2SO4 cathode soln., and an aq. buffer Na2SO4-NaHSO4 anode soln. During current generation H2SO4 is consumed and water produced at the cathode, and Na2SO4 converted to NaHSO4 at the anode. The anode soln. is transferred to a thermochemical regenerator (12) where NaHSO4 at the anode. The anode soln. is transferred to a thermochemical regenerator (12) where NaHSO4 is converted to Na2SO4,SO3 and water, and Na2SO4 and SO3 transferred back to the cathode and anode respectively. Also claimed is a method for generating an electric current between anode and cathode as described above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A sulphuric acid concn. gradient battery which avoids the large-scale distn. of water is provided. Also for fuel cell. Thermal conversion of NaHSO4 into Na2SO4 and SO3 provides a simple and efficient means of replenishing the chemicals consumed in current generation. Low-cost materials are used, high power density is obtainable and the open circuit voltage is 0.5V.
(US4904548-A)      Fuel cell stack to which a reformed fuel and an oxidiser are supplied is controlled by: operating the stack at a constant voltage; measuring an output current Is from the stack; calculating the difference between this and a predetermined current Io; and reducing or increasing the supply of fuel and/or oxidiser so that Is is made to approach Io, so that power is generated by the stack in a stable manner.    ADVANTAGE -   Stable output power is efficiently obtd. without need for excessive fuel consumption in the reformer burner. (First major country equivalent to J01038969-A) @(13pp Dwg.No.3/6)@
(JP2567613-B2)      A device for refilling a fuel cell with electrolyte is disclosed. A carbon gas separator which comprises a cell stack with a cell has at least one side sealing surface in a shape not previously included. A fluororesin moulding member (12) having an electrolyte collection drain (13) is joined to a recessed part. A small hole (14) designed for impregnation of the electrolyte is connected to the drain (13) in the fluororesin moulding member (12). A tapering screw hole (15) is closed by a stopper is moved. The tapering screw hole (15) is closed with a tapered screw.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Refilling fuel cells with electrolyte. The refilling device delivers a specified volume of electrolyte.
At least two incisions (5) are arranged in the base fixing strip (2), which respectively take corresp. fixing pegs (7) of the plugged in adaptor strip (6). The underside of the adaptor strip (6) is provided with contact pegs (9). The fixing pegs (7) of the adaptor strip (6) are provided laterally with ribs. The incisions (5) are openings in the base fixing strip 82). The base fixing strip and the adaptor strip are provided with centring cams (10).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Electric accumulator esp. starting battery. Adaptor strip fitted at base strip cannot slip off or low deformation to occur.
The wind energy converter (6) converts wind into electricity, which is then used to electrolyse water and produce hydrogen, stored in a spherical reservoir (2) at the foot of the converter tower. The hydrogen can be used in gas turbines, ic engines, hydrodynamic generators or fuel cells. The power generated can be used as peak load power to supplement conventional thermo-and nuclear systems.    ADVANTAGE -   No environmental hazard.
Fuel cell electrode consists of a porous substrate with a layer on one surface of a mixt. of a hydrophobic polymer, pref. PTFE, and a Pt (alloy) catalyst, the layer having a catalyst loading per unit area that increases along one axis of the surface.    ADVANTAGE -   The electrode with the non-uniform catalyst loading provides a uniform current density and uniform heat flux across the surface during use.
Rectangular, solid oxide cell, in which a fuel gas is passed over one side of the cell, an O2 gas is passed into the cell and an exhaust gas is formed, includes channels for passing at least a portion of the exhaust gas over the outside of the periphery of the cell, the channels being located so that more of the heat in the exhaust gas flows at the corners of the cell than over the remainder of the sides.    Specifically the cell includes a multiplicity of electrically connected electrochemical cells and fuel gas is reformed beneath the cells in a catalytic reformer, heat in the exhaust gas being used in the fuel gas reformer. The channels for removing the exhaust gas are cut into the insulation around the cells.    Method of operating the cell, using the channels for passing most of the exhaust gas out over the corners of the cell, is claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Arrangement minimises temp. gradients in the cell, improving temp. and operational control.
The terminals are located within a recessed chamber formed in the vehicle body with an insulated separator located between the terminals and supporting the terminals. A cover door with a locking latch encloses the recessed chamber. The door chamber, terminals and electrical connections to the battery poles are of sufficient size to permit the use of heavy gauge jumper cables for quick charging of the battery and quick starting of the vehicle.    By locating the terminals in a chamber external to the engine compartment or other battery compartment of the vehicle the likelihood of a battery explosion caused by an inadvertent spark in connecting or disconnecting the jumper cables is greatly lessened, if not entirely eliminated.    ADVANTAGE -   Protected against tampering and environmental conditions.
On the top of the battery casing (2) a cover (3) pref. of polypropylene is built up with two hinged portions (11) extending across the terminals (4) from a centre portion (8) which conceals the stoppers (6) in the openings (5) to individual cells. The section (8) carrying the hinges 813) features downward projections which are press-fitted into slots in the cover. When access to the terminals (4) is required, the hinged portions (11) can be turned upward without disturbance of the main part of the cover, which continues to protect the cell stoppers (6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Esp. in motor vehicle. Cover protects terminals of battery while allowing access for cleaning and guarantees isolation from unintentional contact, need be removed only for topping-up and general maintenance.
Prodn. of carbonyl-substd. 1,4-dihydro-dibenzo(b,i)-(1,4,8,11) -tetraaza(14)annulene cpds of formula (I) involves liberating the basic ligand (I) from (I) metal complex cpds. of formula (II) with conc. protonic acids: The prepn. of (II) (not claimed) is described e.g. in Jaeger, E.G. and Seidel, D., Z. Chem., 1983, 23, 31, 261; and DD217519.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Reaction is simple and friendly to the environment and takes only a few min. under mild conditions, requiring neither high energy consumption nor special appts. (I) are obtd. in good yields and high purity by a direct method, i.e. without subsequent substitution. (I), in the form of ligands or in free form, can be used as dyestuffs, redox and electrical catalysts (e.g. in oxidn. with atmos. 02, fuel cells or electrochemical sensors for 02 or NO), components of electroconductive materials and catalysts for polymerisation and isomerisation reactions.
Appts. comprises a reactor tube composed of an inner and outer tube and reforming catalyst between the inenr and outer tubes. The outlet side of the reactor tube is heated independently of thermal medium to heat the inlet side of the tube.    USE -   For fuel cell power system.
Appts. to reform methanol gas into H2-rich gas comprises reactor tubes, each composed of an inner and an outer tube, each charged with a reforming catalyst to form outer and inner reactor spaces connected mutually, the reactor tubes being located in a casing.    USE -   For fuel cell power systems. inner
Bismuth-holmium oxide with hexagonal system layer structure is of formula Bi2-2xHo2xO3 (x is 0.205-0.245). Prodn.; 1) Bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) or cpd. which is decomposed to Bi2O3 by heating and 2) holmium oxide (Ho2O3) or cpd. which is decomposed to Ho2O3 by heating, are mixed so ratio of Ho2O3 is 20.5-24.5 mole %. They are heated at up to 700 deg.C in air. Oxygen-ion conductive material comprises bismuth-holmium oxide.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   New cpd. of Bi2-2xHo2xO3 (x is 0.25-0.245) is useful for oxygen ion conductor. It is to be used for oxygen sensor, fuel cell, or oxygen pump.
Electrolyte membrane prepn. comprises filling ion-exchange resin into the pores of porous membrane comprising polyolefin with wt. average mol. wt. of at least 5-10power5.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used widely for fields, which need low electric resistance and good mechanical strength, e.g. fuel cell, water-or edible salt-electrolysis, prim. or sec. -battery, sepn. membrane for accelerated transportation, electrochromic device and sensor, because membrane is flexible, does not cause leakage and has good dynamic strength and dimensional stability, so it reduces ohm-loss of electrolyte layer and halts increase of contact resistance with electrode accompanied by expansion and shrinkage.
The material, pref. polycrystalline, sintered, is made by reversible reduction, pref. in H2 at 600-1000 deg.C, of a monoclinic cpd. with the general compsn.: NaxAlyTi(3+)x-yTi(4+) 8-x016 in which x is 1.5-2.0, y is between 1.5 and 2.0 and x is smaller than y. The cpd. has after reduction ab0 - crystal parameter which is more than 0.001 nm larger than before, pref. 0.001-0.005 nm larger. The crystal axes of the reduced cpd. are pref.: a0 = 1.209 - 1.221 nm, b0 = 0.377 - 0.381 nm and c0 = 0.640 - 0.645, while beta0 = 106.6 - 108.6 degrees.    The reduced cpd. can be changed back into the original cpd. by oxidation in air at 1200-1300 deg.C. the porosity is pref. less than 5%. A mfg. process is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The material can be made impermeable to gas or porous depending on the application. It is inexpensive to mfr. and has good mechanical strength, allowing thin layers to be used. The resistivity is acceptable for use in fuel cells or sensors.
The jump-leads for engine staring include at least one pair of leads each coupled to parts of electrical systems. At least one pair of leads are bridged by voltage surge suppressor and stabiliser. The voltage surge stabiliser consists of at least one pair of zener diodes in back to back configuration or at least one varistor to be connected across the terminals of least one of the batteries in a slave engine or a engine to be started. The diodes bridge between the coupling and have a breakdown voltage of between 6 and 60 volts and a power rating of about 12 amps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For starting motor vehicles. Prevents damage due to surge voltages.
Electrocatalytic process for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons comprises: (A) providing a fuel cell comprising a solid electrolyte with a 1st surface (I) coated with conductive metal and/or metal oxide able to catalyse the redn. of O2 to O ions and a 2nd surface (II) coated with a conductive mixt. of (i) conductive metal and/or metal oxides, and (ii) alkali metal(s), the 2 conductive coatings being connected by an external circuit, in which (I) is the cathode and (II) the anode; (B) passing an O2-contg. gas in contact with the surface (I) at about 500-950 deg. C; while (C) passing a CH4 feed gas in contact with the surface (II) at about 500-950 deg. C; and (D) recovering higher mol.wt. hydrocarbons.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   C2H4, C2H6 etc. are produced, and electricity is a useful by-prod. An electric potential can be applied between (I) and (II) and usually results in increased CH4 conversion. E.g. 11.7% CH4 conversion with 26.0% 2C selectivity can be obtd. with an applied voltage of 1.5V.
Methanol fuel reforming unit produces fuel gas to feed to fuel battery by vaporising and reforming a mixt. of methanol and water. A reflux circuit (14) connecting the distributor (12) and the fuel tank (1) through reflux flow control valve (13) is provided and part of vaporised fuel is returned to the fuel tank by controlling the control valve complying with battery load.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for small portable fuel battery power generating system. The device can feed vaporised fuel reqd. immediately by operating in full and controlling return flow with the control valve. The response speed of fuel gas generation coping with load fluctuation is shortened significantly, which improves load response of the power generation system.
In preparing a slurry used in prodn. of green ceramics sheet, comprising powdered ceramics, dispersant, binder, plasticiser and solvent, ester of unsatd. fatty acid, pref. ester of 12-14 fatty acid and 1-8C alcohol, is used as the dispersant.    ADVANTAGE -   Shows uniform dispersibility for long period. Green ceramics sheet is obtd. which is the same as conventional one obtd. by using fish oil.
The batteries (1) are connected to commutator (2) joined via switching unit (4) to a charging source (3). The control unit (5) controls the commutator (2) operation via a comparator (6). The urrent controller (7) with voltage divider at its output controls the charging source via a switching system (8) and has fixed contacts (9) and closing contacts (10).    During operation, the control (5) connects batteries (1) in step to comparator (6). If battery voltage is below a preset level, then the comparator (6) output signal inhibits control (5) and switches-on the controlled rectifier (3) via switch (4) to the battery with a low voltage. The charge current is defined by the switch (9) position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For storage of charged batteries used in combines and tractors during cold period of time. Functional capability is extended by storing batteries with various capacities. Bul.31/23.8.88
Solid electrolyte thin film is made by mixing at least 50 wt. % stabilised zirconia powder and up to 50 wt. % stabilised zirconia short fibres with organic solvent and organic resin binder to form a slurry, applying the slurry on the surface of a matrix to form a thin film and firing the thin film to harden it.    USE -   Used for making solid electrolyte thin film used for solid electrolyte type fuel cells, oxygen concn. cells, and oxygen sensors. Cracking of the thin film during sintering is prevented. Reduction of electrical conductivity is avoided, and cracking of thin film caused by thermal shock during use is reduced.
(JP2504467-B2)       The electrolyte plate for a fused carbonate fuel battery includes at least two matrix layers for holding the fused carbonate electrolyte. The matrix layers are made from a raw material based on lithium aluminate and binder. A mixt. of electrolyte and binder is loaded into the space between the matrix layers, and the mixt. and matrix layers are joined by thermocompression bonding at 70-200 deg.C and 50 kg/cm2pressure.    ADVANTAGE -   The obtd. electrolyte plate is flat and smooth, and its component parts are held together reliably. The process is shortened.
A vehicle battery connector has an inner cylindrical portion (2) with a threaded terminal post on a perforated top, and slotted sides profiled as claws to grip the battery's own post (1). An outer cylinder (4) forces these into tight contact when the associated vehicle connection (6) is secured by a nut (8) over spring washers (7).    An insulating sleeve (3) with a closed top and a tapered edge fits over the battery post above the claws, supporting a pyrotechnic gas generator (5). This is connected to an external inertia switch-operated electrical supply. In the event of a crash, the gas generator is fired to lift the outer cylinder and release the claws. The insulating sleeve (30) simultaneously moves down to separate them from the battery post, so disconnecting its supply from the vehicle's circuits.    ADVANTAGE -   Inertia switch control of battery disconnection reduces fire hazard in event of vehicle crash, since it requires no action by individuals involved.
A method of forming a solid oxide fuel cell comprises forming the unsintered anode, cathode, electrolyte and inner connector layers as required, heating with microwaves to remove the binder, and then heating with microwaves to a higher temp. to sinter the layers. The furnace is conventionally heated simultaneously with the microwaves to reduce surface cooling and to give a more uniform temp. through the fuel cell.    Also claimed is a method of forming a monolithic fuel cell module (10) as above by forming individual thin layers of cathode (16), anode (14), electrolyte (18) and inner connector (20), which are unsintered and contain binder, laminating these into a triplex layer (12), shaping this and forming a module from the triplex layers (12). The module is gradually heated to remove the binder, further heated to cause sintering, and gradually cooled by reducing microwave power that no stresses arise. Again a combination of microwave and conventional heating is used throughout.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of forming the oxide layers in a solid oxide fuel cell (claimed) which avoids large temp. gradients is provided, since heating occurs throughout the material. Time taken and power consumption are reduced, as are problems of cracking, separation, blistering and delamination.
A catalyst support loaded with different kinds of metal parts of which are not fully alloyed is treated with plasma, so that the metals are fully converted to the corresp. alloys.    Pref. carbon is used as the catalyst support, and is prepd. by impregnating aq. solns. contg. salts of different kinds of metals. The raw catalyst support is treated with plasma so that it is passed through, with inert gas, a quartz tube which is wound into a coil. The different kinds, of metals are a combination of precious and non-precious metals, esp. Pt and Cr or Fe.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for fuel cell electrodes. Raw metals can be alloyed in a short time by heating rapidly to high temp. with plasma. They can be cooled rapidly so that the metals are alloyed while maintaining their particle size small. The resultant catalyst is highly active, having a larger specific surface area.
Support loaded with Pt powder is contacted with a soln. contg. Co cpds. and Cr. cpds. to adhere them to the support which is treated at a high temp., so that Pt-Cr-Co alloy is formed.    Pref. carbon black is used as the support. Chromium nitrate and cobalt nitrate are used. The support is treated at 800-1000 deg.C for 0.5-2 hrs. in an inert gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used for fuel cells. Cr and Co can be uniformly simultaneously deposited. The ratio of Cr/Co can be freely changed.    In an example, 10g of carbon black loaded with Pt were dispersed in 400 ml of water; a soln. contg. 7g of chromium nitrate and 4g of cobalt nitrate in 100 ml of dil. HCl was added to the carbon black dispersion. Dil. NH4OH was added to adjust the pH of the dispersion to 7.5. The carbon black powders were filtered off, dried at 90 deg.C, and heated at 900 deg.C for 2 hrs. in N2 gas.
Appts. comprises a temp. detection position, adjuster to change the reforming temp. detecting position of a temp. sensor in a reforming reactor tube according to the prodn. rate of the reformed gas.    USE -   For fuel cell power plants.
(JP96034103-B2)      Electrolyte plate has wet seal section between upper and lower casing frames. The case frames are vertical. The electrolyte board forms part of a fuel cell and has a frame like periphery bound tightly to the vertical case frame. A recess is formed in the frame-like periphery, with the circumference of the electrode shaped to match.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrolyte plate is used in a fused-carbonate fuel cell. Mechanical strength of the peripheral part is improved. Quality of melt-carbonate held is increased significantly. Leakage of gas from a sealing part is controlled.
A methanol reformer comprises a cylindrical furnace, a burner placed at upper part of the furnace, a cylindrical wall placed around the burner, a vapourizer placed in the wall, a reactor placed at the outside of the wall and connected to the vapouriser and an outlet. The reformer also comprises an air chamber between the burner and the reactor and air is supplied from the outside of the furnace to the air chamber controlling its amt. based on a catalyst temp. in the reactor.    USE -   The compsn. and amt. of flow of reformed gas do not change when the load of the fuel cell changes, because the catalyst in the reactor is not super-heated.
The connection terminal comprises a split metal ring (14), e.g. of Pb, electrically connected to the end of the battery lead (12) and enclosed within an insulating moulded plastics protective housing (13). The latter has a pair of projecting parallel arms (16) on the opposite side of the ring (14) to the battery lead (12), with aligned bores (16') for reception of a clamping screw used to tighten the ring around the battery terminal fitted through the centre of the ring (14). Pref. the ring (14) has a lateral section at its closed side, for reception of the end of the battery lead (12).    ADVANTAGE -   Intrinsic elasticity ensures automatic release when clamping spring is released.
The battery terminal bolt is of a unitary assembly, having an elongated threaded stem terminating at an enlarged body or head. Multiple arms are rigidly projected radially from the body or head at a location axially spaced from the threaded stem. The arms may be angled slightly out of perpendicular relative to the threaded stem, in a direction axially away from the threaded stem or may be perpendicular relative to the threaded stem.    The arms provide convenient places to allow for the temporary and separable connection of alligator clamps of a jump cable. The bolt may be formed of separate components secured together, including one component having the head and threaded stem, and one component having the arms. The unitary bolt assembly may be copper plated for improved conductivity.    USE -   Terminal connector for a side-mount vehicle battery.
Apts. comprises a thermal medium flow passage changeover unit to connect a thermal medium expansion tank in series to a thermal medium circulating line connected between a reforming unit and thermal medium boiler when the operation of the reforming unit is stopped.    USE -   For fiel cell power generators.
Appts. comprises a catalyst pressing structure to press the end face of a reforming catalyst bed formed in the passage, through a gas-permeable press board.    USE -   For fuel cells.
Methanol reformer appts. has an air chamber formed between the burner and reactor disposed in a heating chamber formed around a tubular partition wall surrounding the burner located in an upper central space of the furnace.    USE -   For fuel cells.
Appts comprises a reactor to gasify and reform a mixt. of methanol with water; a burner fuel feed passage connected to the reactor, and a burner fuel reformer to reform at least a part of the mixt. only when the burner is ignited;. The reformer is disposed in the burner fuel feed passage.    USE -   Used for fuel cell type power generator systems.
(JP2517287-B2)      The fuel battery comprises a gas sepg. membrane (1) between the electrodes (P, N) a matrix (M2) supported between opposite skims (5) which are L-shaped; SiC matrix with gas inlets, adhered to anode (P) which is rectangular and corresponds in shape and size with a filling-in pt. (4), being arranged between filling-in pt. and anodic gas inlet. Each skim is a compressed fluororesin.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The battery is of, e.g., phosphoric acid type. Leakage of electrolyte is prevented, the anode prevents damage from reaction gas inlet, and seal is improved.
The collar is made of rubber on the contact or bearing side and of plastics or aluminium foil on the rear side for the purpose of heat insulation. The collar can be designed with three right angles for fitting around the battery.    The collar is provided with a quick clamping fastener to give a snug fit against the battery sides. Using anti-freeze in the water, the collar can be ready for use in any weather.    ADVANTAGE -   Increases starting power. Improved cold start. Difficult and dirty removal of battery for heating not necessary.
A catalyst on titanium carbide support forms an oxygen-reducing electrode in a fuel cell. The support is characterised by a particle size of 50-400A and open porosity and chain-like structure and is formed by heating TiCl4 vapour with unsatd. hydrocarbon and H2 at 500-1100 deg.C. The support surface area is at least 25 m2/g and it has improved corrosion resistance and catalytic activity compared with a carbon black catalyst contg. the same amount of catalyst.    Pref. the TiC support is formed using a H2:TiCl4 vol. ratio of more than 6:1 and using a vol. of hydrocarbon such as Ti:C is less than 4:1. A fuel cell as above pref. contains phosphoric acid electrolyte.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fine TiC powder is used as a fuel cell electrocatalyst support and is especially useful in oxygen reduction electrodes for phosphoric acid fuel cells (claimed). The support has improved corrosion resistance (figure) and catalytic activity (claimed) and lower resistance at higher pressures than carbon supports, and thus increases the lifetime of the fuel cells.
Fuel cell comprising an anode contg. a catalyst, an ion exchange membrane electrolyte, a cathode and wet proofing means is cooled by:- (1) forming a liq. water mist from supplied liq. water using an aspirator, (2) controlling the amt. of liq. water mist introduced to prevent flooding of the anode, (3) adding a desiccant material to the anode to prevent local area flooding and to transport the liq. water mist through the anode to the ion exchange membrane,evaporating water formed in the cathode and passed through the wet proofing means so as to cool the fuel cell.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For applications requiring large, very efficient power-to-weight ratio such as in spacecraft, submarine or ground vehicles. A high pacting density is achieved by eliminating the need for a separate cooling compartment while current and power density capabilities are also increased (all claimed).
Appts. for electrically conditioning electrodes in an electrolyte comprises: metal electrode(s) in an electrolyte and having cathodic and anodic portions; and a pulsating dc voltage signal source connected to the electrode. The signal parameters are designed such that H2 is produced from the electrode cathodic portion while the anodic portion is maintained in a depassivated state where no O2 is produced and the anodic portion is consumed. Pref. the peak pulse voltage, duty cycle and pulse repetition rate all have pre-determined values to provide the above conditions.    USE -   In e.g. cells producing high quality H2 for fuel cells; in electrolytic prodn. of metal (hydr)oxides; or in electrolytic processes to remove rust, scale, debris etc. from metal surfaces e.g. in steel pickling, metal plate cleaning etc.. Appts. provides a fast, low cost process.
Appts. for performing an electrochemical process involving a gaseous component comprises a thin film polymer blend membrane (1) in a housing, (2). The membrane separates two gas chambers (8,9). The membrane (1) has high protonic conductivity.    It is formed by removing solvent from a soln. of a blend of 10-50 mole % phosphoric acid, 40-80 mole % organic polymer and 10-40 mole % organic polyacid. The phosphoric acid is hypo-, meta-, ortho-, pyro- or poly-phosphoric acid. The polymer comprises vinyl alcohol, vinyl fluoride, ethyleneimine or oxyethylene units or is cellulose acetate. The polyacid is an acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or styrene sulphonic acid polymer. The apparatus contains two separate portions of catalyst(s) effective to promote dissociation and combination, one portion in contact with each surface of the membrane (1). each portion of catalyst(s) has means (b) for forming an electrical connection (3,4).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The electrochemical process involves a gaseous mixt. having a component which is capable, in the presence of catalyst (5), of dissociating to yield hydrogen ions or combining with hydrogen ions. Fuel gas can be supplied to one chamber (8) and oxidant gas to the other chamber (9) or a gaseous mixt. can be supplied to chamber (8) and pure hydrogen removed from chamber (9).
The device includes a reformer reactor for hydrocarbon material.It is provided with a container for storing part of the hydrocarbon material which is desulphurised.    USE -   The device can be restarted, after stoppage, without requiring an external hydrogen source.
(JP2774496-B2)      The method involves arranging a pair of porous electrodes on both sides of an electrolyte layer which is impregnated with electrolyte. A fuel gas is supplied to one of the electrodes. A pair of fuel gas manifolds (12,13) and a pair of oxidizing agent gas manifolds are provided for supplying or exhausting fuel gas and oxidizing agent gas, respectively, to or from a unit cell multilayer body through a separator. The unit cell multilayer body has multiple unit cells laminated together and outputs electrical energy to other electrode. A partition board (18) is provided inside the manifold of the fuel gas. An amount control valve (19) is installed in the gas piping (16), linked to each space formed by the partition. The opening of control valve is controlled, so as to control the voltage distribution of the battery to be uniform.    ADVANTAGE -   Prevents commutation due to hydrogen insufficiency. Increases life of battery.
Electric storage battery (1) has a container of electrically insulating material (10) with a covering of a material which reflects infra red radiation. Container (10) may be of closed cell foam plastics material with a reflecting layer of pref. varnish or metallising or one or more outer films of metallised polyethylene terephthalate. In an alternative the casing has inner and outer layers of IR reflecting material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a battery for use in a hot environment, e.g. in conjunction with IC engines, electrical and electronic equipment that emit heat. Electrolyte of battery will deteriorate if exposed to heat and cause corrosion of electrodes and support grids etc. IR reflector material reduces battery temperature, prolonging life.
Two semicircular metal units (2,3) profiled to match a batery battery terminal post, are linked by an interlaced rolled hinge (5) formed integrally at one end of each. At their other ends, their extremities are turned at right angles (22,32) and cut away so that the units can lie together whilst leaving parallel flat sections (221,321) facing each other.    A spring (7) positioned between the flat sections forces them apart to close the opening (4) between the semicircles, and a screwed clamp (8) secured to one grips a cable end (10). Connection to a battery terminal is effected by squeezing the sections together, enlarging the opening so that the terminal can be inserted, and then releasing pressure. Contact is maintained by action of the spring alone.    ADVANTAGE -   Connector design requires no tools for fitting or removal, and is of particular value in facilitating quick release in emergency situations.
The additive consists of a mixt. of 35-45 pts. wt. of MgSO4 . 7H2O, 50-70 pts. wt. of Na2SO4 . 7H2O and 5-10 pts. wt. of MgO. Prefd. quantities are resp. 37-43, 55-65 and 6-8 pts. wt. Also claimed is resp. 38-42, 58-62 and 6.5-7.5 pts. wt. A quantity of 1-10g, pref. 2-7g, esp. 3-6g of the mixt. is added to each of the battery cells.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The additive is able to convert ''hard'', normally inactive PbSO4, present in used batteries, into an active form. This increases the capacity of used batteries which had shown a reduced performance.
Multielectrode photoelectrochemical unit for unassisted photoelectrically-induced reactions, such as the decomposition of water to hydrogen and oxygen comprises (a) a housing having at least one light-passing side, a first end, a second end and a housing wall defining an internal section; (b) a first photoactive bipolar electrode panel in the internal section having a semiconductor side, an ohmic contact layer and an underside, and being attached to the housing wall near the first end of the internal section with the semiconductor side oriented toward the first end and partially forming a first terminal compartment; and (c) a second photoactive bipolar electrode panel in the internal section having a semiconductor side, an ohmic contact layer and a catalytic side, attached to the housing wall near the second end of the internal section with the catalytic side oriented toward the second end and partially forming a second terminal compartment. An internal compartment in the internal section is partially formed by the underside of the first photoactive bipolar electrode panel and the semiconductor side of the second panel. The first and second panels are attached to the housing walls to prevent liq. flow between the internal compartment and the terminal compartments, and being positioned so that light from an external source entering the internal section is substantially incident upon the semiconductor sides.    ADVANTAGE -   An expenditure of energy in addition to incident radiation (e.g. solar) energy is not required for photolytic water splitting; and requires no electrical wiring between bipolar electrode panels.
Electrocatalytic process for converting CH4, natural gas or other light hydrocarbons to synthesis gas comprises: (a) providing an electrochemical cell comprising a solid electrolyte with a 1st surface coated with a conductive metal, metal oxide or their mixts., able to facilitate the redn. of O2 to oxygen ions, and a 2nd surface coated with conductive metal, metal oxide or their mixts., both coatings being stable at operating temp.; (b) heating the cell to at least 1000 deg.C; (c) passing an O2-contg. gas in contact with the 1st surface coating; (d) passing the above hydrocarbons in contact with the 2nd surface coating; and (e) recovering synthesis gas.    ADVANTAGE -   CH4 conversion is e.g. 100%, and molar selectivity to CO e.g. 99.9%. In addn. to syngas, the prods. can include C2H2 and C2H4. Electricity can be generated in an external circuit connected between the 2 surfaces.
C-material is made by (a) impregnating thermosetting resin into the sheet or plate of cellulose obtd. by hydrolysing the sheet or plate of acetyl cellulose; (b) compression moulding it and (c) firing the compact.    USE -   For making C-material used for separators of phosphoric acid type fuel cells having surface accuracy.
Reactor comprises a methanol reforming catalyst layer for heat insulated reaction and a methanol reforming catalyst layer for isothermal reaction. Both layers are positioned from the upstream in a cylindrical container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Temp. gradient is nto steep. Responsiveness to load is good The reactor is compact. It is used to produce H2.
In a conductive moulded plate comprising integrally bonded electric insulating sheet, thermosetting resin, and carbon powder, thermosetting resin and carbon powder are contained in a porous sheet of organic fibre or ceramic fibre to communicate with each other in the direction of the thickness of the sheet. Eelectric ratio resistance in the direction of the thickness of the sheet is up to 10 ohm cm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prod. has good resistance to chemical and mechanical strength, and can be produced at low cost. Prod. can be used in a redox battery, Cr-Br battery or as electromagnetic shield material with ferromagnetic material, e.g., ferrite, is added to filler in addition to carbon.
Appts. includes a fuel cell which provides electrical energy and a stream of oxygen-depleted, nitrogen-enriched cathode exhaust. The cathode exhaust is liquified to form a mixt. of liq. nitrogen and liq. oxygen. The mixt. is subsequently sepd. to produce stream of nitrogen product and stream of oxygen by-product.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The nitrogen is used as a feedstock for chemical syntheses or as an inert atmosphere. The process is particularly useful for uses where there is not great demand for the oxygen by-prod. Oxygen, which would consume energy in a conventional liquifaction appts., is removed prior to liquifaction, only a minor portion of the liquified stream consisting of oxygen.
An alloy contains by wt. 0.03-0.2% Sn, 0.03-0.07% Ga, 0.002-0.006% Si, the balance being aluminium of at least 99-995% purity, the impurities including not more than 10 ppm Fe, 10 ppm Zn and 2 ppm Pb. Pref. the compsn. consists of 0.05-0.1% Sn, 0.05-0.07% Ca, and 0.003-0.006% Si with the impurities limited as above.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Battery anodes esp. for use with alkaline electrolyte fuel cell. Particularly high discharge short-life battery as used in a torpedo. High voltage is produced with high coulombic efficiency and reduced gassing.
A first adjustment is performed of the supply of the power to a load by the battery in response to the sudden variation in load until the fuel cell responds to the sudden variation in load. The DC power delivered from the battery is converted into AC power for supply to the load. The response of the fuel cell w.r.t. sudden variation in load is delayed in time by an integrator.    The power supplied form the fuel cell is controlled while performing a second adjustment of the supply of the power to the load by the fuel cell after the fuel cell responds to the sudden variation in load. (First major country equivalent to J63289773)
The reserve battery comprises an electrolyte reservoir communicating with individual cells. The reserve battery may be used to re-charge a vehicle primary battery through use of the cigar lighter circuit (16). An elastic reservoir bag in an expended state containing an electrolyte fluid and is connected by a passageway to a bulkhead cavity. A hook (18) is provided to both lock the activating knob and support the reserve battery during the charging process, which will take approximately 10 minutes.    The delivery of current is regulated to prevent excessive current from blowing the fuse in the cigar light circuit.    ADVANTAGE -   Does not need regular recharging.
A solid electrolyte for use in electrochemical devices is based on gadolinium-doped barium cerate (BCG). The pref. compsn. is BaCe1-xGdxO3-x/2, where x is the fraction of dopant Gd ions replacing Ce in the BaCeO3 lattice. Also claimed is an electrochemical device which has a solid electrolyte of perovskite structure of the compsn. above, having an oxide ion conductivity of from 0.1 x 10 power 03 ohm -1 cm-1 at 200 deg.C to 38 x 10 power -3 ohm-1 cm-1 at 800 deg.C.    USE -   /ADVAHTAGE - BCG solid electrolytes can be used in fuel cells, oxygen gas monitor and electrosynthetic cells. The electrolyte has vastly superior ionic conductivity of the previous best ceria -gadolinia systems, despite a greatr thickness of electrolyte and using less Gd. Current densities of 105 mA cm-2 at 800 deg.C are achieved at 0.7 V and cells were stable for 1000 hrs. at 800 deg.C.
Current flow and distribution in a porous anode of a bipolar plate of a cell pile is improved by providing metal platelets (9) embedded in the porous anode layer (8) which can be welded to the contact sheet (11) after passing through holes (14) in the corrugated sheet.    ADVANTAGE -   A satisfactory current contact is established by reduction sintering the platelets (9) to the anode layer (8) to produce a crystalline metallic joint between the two which prevents a high resistance barrier layer forming.
The starter battery has a top plate (2) consisting of upper and lower parts (4,5) welded together and incorporating openings into which fit the ends (10) of two carrying handles (3) made of a thermoplastics material. Both handles fold downwards when not in use, to fit into recesses across the top plate, without projecting above the surface.    The handles are U shaped, with thicker rectangular free ends which fit inside the openings in the top plate, which also incorporate projections (12) retaining the handles in position.    ADVANTAGE -   Projecting parts are eliminated for handling by industrial robots during assembly.
A switching circuit (12) between the power supply circuit (11) and the battery selects the polarity of the voltage applied to the battery. A control circuit (13) detects the polarity of the battery from the remaining voltage of the battery and controls the switching circuit according to the detected polarity.    The control circuit includes a pair of diodes (D1,D2) connected in opposite polarity to each other in parallel with the battery. One of the diodes is turned on by the remaining battery voltage. The switching circuit (12) includes a pair of relay coils (CR1,CR2) connected in series with respective diodes and relay contacts (CR1a,CR2a) which are controlled by the coils.    ADVANTAGE -   Can be corrected without regard to polarity.
Cell includes an annular elongated inner electrode (2) contg. an interior gas feed conduit (3); annular solid electrolyte segments (4) around the inner electrode; annular outer electrode segments (6) around the electrolyte segments; conductive non-porous interconnects (5) between electrolyte segments and in contact with the inner electrode; and porous metal fibre current collector felts (7) on top of the interconnects and outer electrode segments. The non-porous interconnects and porous felts are located around the cell transverse to its axial length; and the inner electrode is continuous for the entire axial length of the cell.    ADVANTAGE -   Cell has simple geometry and connection pattern for adjacent cells, forming large strong units with high unit power; circumferential voltage drop in the air electrode and non-uniform current density are eliminated.
In a fuel cell system with an internally reforming fuel cell (2) and a gas transfer device (4) for recycling H2 in the fuel cell exhaust back to the fuel cell, the supply fuel is passed through the transfer device so as to allow controllable transfer of water with the transferred H2, thus providing a stream automatically contg. water necessary for the steam reforming reaction in the fuel cell.    The amt. of water transferred is controllable by dependence on the fuel supply.    ADVANTAGE -   Need for a water condenser is eliminated, power requirements are reduced; and the overall system efficiency is improved.
In a methanol reformer to produce fuel of fuel cells by vaporising and reforming a mixt. of methanol and water, the temp. of the mixt. supplied to a burner nozzle (3) is detected and amt. of the mixt. sprayed from the nozzle and amt. of air from a fan (5) suitable for the amt. of mixt. are calculated based on its viscosity at the detected temp. The voltage of a motor of the fan is controlled so that the amt. of air calculated is obtd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To stabilise combustion by a burner under optimum conditions by detecting temps. of a mixt. of methanol and water to supply stable gas components to a fuel cell.
(JP2569550-B2)      Temp. distribution improvement of fuel cell is effected by providing a heat transfer promoting configuration. The fuel cell has an oxygen electrode, a fuel electrode and separator. The heat transfer promoting configuration passes heat to the separator.    ADVANTAGE -   Heat is distributed evenly throughout the cell. High electricity generation power density can be obtd.. Economical efficiency is improved.
Organic contaminant level in an aq. liq. is reduced by converting organic cpds. to inocuous gases by heat treatment. The aq. liq. is heated to 250-500 deg.C in the presence of a reduced Ni catalyst, under sufficient pressure to prevent water evapn. Pref. the organic cpd. is a hydrocarbon, oxygenated or halogenated hydrocarbon, non-lignocellulosic carbohydrate or vegetable oil. The carbohydrates are from food processing waste, brewery waste, fruit pomace, potato processing waste or whey. The temp. is 250-370 (350-370) deg.C. The contaminant is at 0.1-10 wt.%. The aq. fluid is heated in the absence of added O2. Water is in stoichiometric excess. The pressure used is as low as possible to prevent vapourisation. CO2 and CH3 are each sepd. from other prod. gases.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Inocuous prod. gas is at relatively low temp. CH4, CO2 and H2 are produced from hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, halohydrocarbons, starches, sugar or vegetable oils.
The compsn. contains (wt.% of dry cpd.): manure 35-50% and ppte. from municipal drainage water to 100. As previously, the compsn. contains defecate and the ppte. from cleansing of drainage water.    Typically, the proposed compsn. is incorporated into the top soil at expenditure 100-130 tonnes/hectare.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Increased fertility of reclaimed soil by improving agrochemical properties of the meliorating agent, reducing the content of exchanged sodium, and increasing microbiological activity of soil in agricultural practice, esp. reclamation of solonetz (dark alkaline soil). Bul. 10/15.3.89
Garbage disposer is adapted to receive and dispose of garbage, and comprises system for detecting offensive odour of garbage received or propagated degree of microorganisms.    ADVANTAGE -   Since concn. of offensive odour of garbage is detected, generated odour can be detected and treated.
Aerobic fermentation of hydrous organic slurry containing 60% or more of water, includes mixing the slurry with pieces of paper (claimed).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Various kinds of organic slurry contg. large amt. of water can be fermented aerobically to give organic fertiliser, etc. By mixing several percent of pieces of paper with organic slurry, followed by keeping standing in air, aerobic fermentation proceeds smoothly.
Mixed protein silage from animal waste prods. is preserved biologically by addn. of 4% of a carbohydrate source, sugar or starch degraded by fermentation, an 0.1% of a starter culture contg. a bacterial mixt. of St. cremoris, St. lactis and Leuconostoc, followed by fermentation at 314-319 deg. K, to give a pH after fermentation of 4.0-3.7.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of mineral or organic acids and other chemicals is avoided, the preservative is easily transported and stored, corrosion of the appts. is reduced, and the prod. enhances the growth of animals, esp. pigs.
Appts. comprises drier for drying sludge by evaporation through heating with steam, and fermenting tank for converting dried sludge to fertiliser by fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost can be obtd. by fermenting sludge contg. few bacteria in fermenting tank.
Livestock wastes, etc., is mixed with a water content regulator, e.g., a powder or granular mineral oxides, carbides, or nitrides or vegetable powder or granule such as chaff, etc., to regulate the water content to 60-80%. The fermentative raw material so formed is mixed with a high-temp. soil microorganisms and heated to 70-85 deg.C. in one hour with stirring by using a heater, and the raw material is further fermented for 1-5 hours at 70-85 deg.C. while being stirred.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method can effectively treat garbage, livestock wastes, etc., by forming fragrant compost or aminal feed free of offensive odour in a short time at high temps.
Method of reducing the level of methane in mines, underground installations, etc., comprises contacting the methane with methanotrophic bacteria. Pref. the bacteria are provided in a nutritionally adequate medium and sprayed onto a porous substrate, or are applied in a suitable form to the walls or other surfaces of the mine, etc.    Appts. is also claimed comprising a system to monitor the bacteria and a system to spray the bacteria onto a desired surface.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful in mines, underground installations, sewage treatment plants, chemical installations, etc. The method is esp. suitable for use in newly excavated and poorly ventilated mine tunnels. The bacteria remain dormant in low methane environments, and retain the ability to proliferatee if the methane level increases. Methane concn. can be maintained below 1%, irrespective of initial concn.
The particles pass from an inlet hopper into a filling chamber, and are moved from there without compression by two rams into a compression and forming chamber and are compressed there by the rams into a highly compacted briquette form. The briquette is then moved by the rams to an exit area and leaves the machine under the effect of gravity. The compression may vary from the minimum pressure required to make the particles adhere to each other, to high-pressure compaction where the particles flow into each other and form a continuous mass.    ADVANTAGE -   The briquettes are produced in a single direction of motion of the rams without the need to close the filling chamber. The escape of particles from the filling chamber during the process is kept to a minimum.
Desiccated fibres are opened to absorb liquid when they are composted by transferring liq. from a sump to a mixing pit and then to a separator, opening the fibres in chopping, grinding, and recycling pumps, and separating the fibres from liquid in press rollers after the liquid has penetrated to their cores to decrease their carbon to nitrogen ratio and accelerate fermentation. The liq. is pref. manure.    ADVANTAGE -   The liq. is solidified and ferments well.
The mixing tool for a composting plant is a helical element without any central shafts which is joined at one end of the spiral to the output shaft of a motor.    In pref. embodiments, the mixing tool, joined to the shaft of a drive motor, revolves slowly to raise the rotting compost. It consists of a serrated spiral strip and several stiffening layers which are joined to each other and are made of metal or a metal alloy.    ADVANTAGE -   The absence of a central shaft and of spokes reduces the power consumption and prevents any entanglement with stringy matter.
Membrane useful for gas sepn. comprises an ethyl cellulose layer coated with poly(4-methylpentene-1), both layers being less than 2 microns thick. The ethyl cellulose has formula (I) and has an ethoxy content of 35-50 wt.%/    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gas sepn. at high flux and sensitivity, e.g. oxygen from nitrogen, H2S from nitrogen, methane from CO2, hydrogen, SO2 or ammonia from nitrogen or water vapour from air. It has an O2/N2 selectivity greater than that of the ethyl cellulose and greater than 90% of that of the poly(4-methylpentene-
Oily substance is recovered from sewage sludge by alkaline reaction at 150-250 deg.C at a pressure higher than the satn. steam pressure at the reaction temp. for over 60 mins. and cooling the reaction prod.    Sewage sludge pref. having water content of 60-85% is treated. To make the sludge alkaline, NaOH, KOH, Na2CO3, K2CO3, NaHCO3, KHCO3 or Mg(OH)2 etc. are added in 0.001-0.5 wt.pt. based on 1 wt.pt. of dried sludge. The reaction prod. is rapidly cooled to under 100 deg.C and after cooling is sepd. to water phase and slurry phase, which is then sepd. to solid and oily substance. To ease sepn. amt. of an alkali added and reaction conditions are controlled so that pH of the water phase after sepn. is 4-11. To increase recovering rate of the oily substance, the slurry is sepd. by a screw press, a pressure filter or a centrifugal separator. The slurry can be heated at 50-100 deg.C.    ADVANTAGE -   The sewage sludge is changed to a oily substance useful for liq. fuel in a yield of 40-45%. Running cost is reduced as the sludge is treated at lower temp. Oily substance is easily recovered.
Fermentation process uses a tank in which specified chemicals are added in order to selectively prevent proliferation of sulphuric acid reducing bacteria within the tank and also pipes connected to the tank.    ADVANTAGE -   Increases efficiency of methane fermentation in anaerobic waste water treatment.
A cavity leached from rock salt and filled with brine is rapidly abandoned by injecting a mixt. denser than brine to fill it completely and displace the brine, keeping the cavity in communication with the exterior for long enough for rock salt to flow to fill any voids, and the sealing the cavity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For mines and qurries. There is little risk of subsidence, and the cavity can be sealed within a few years.
A mobile unit which on passage through thick layers of organic material rotting to form compost takes in material to be aerated, mixed and finally ejected from the unit rear to continue the rotting, automatically clears a lane for its advance by transfer means at the front end of the unit. A plate at the front end carries tools driven by a hydraulic motor, and can be vertically moved into and out of engagement with the compost surface. A scraper strip of the underside of each guide surface is made of rubber.    ADVANTAGE -   Avoids need to make special approach lanes.
In the prodn of C2H4 and C2H6 from CH4 by a thermal-catalytic non-oxidative reaction, CH4 diluted with steam is passed continuously at 750-950, pref. 800-880 deg. C. 0.1-1.0 MPa and a throughput of 0.1-0.5, pref. 0.2-0.3 1 CH4/9 catalyst.h through a catalyst zone of refractory Ca aluminate (I); and reaction gases formed are chilled rapidly to temps. below 400 deg.C.; and the required prods. are sepd.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is selective and involves only one state. Continuous operation and the use of cheap raw materials and catalyst and a single reactor have economical advantages. The process can easily be integrated with any commercial olefin generation plant to use the CH4 formed, any available energy and the cracked gas cooling and sepn. equipment.
The method selectively senses the amt. of methane gas in an O2-contg. gas stream. The method comprises (a) obtaining a reference electrode output reading from two electrode interconnected catalysts heated at 350-450 deg.C, one of Pt and one of Pd; (b) passing a gas stream over the catalysts with the methane being oxidised only by the Pd catalyst and the other components by both catalysts so that the Pd catalyst is heated to a proportionately higher temp. based on the % of methane present; (c) obtaining an elec. output reading while the gas is being passed over the catalysts; and (d) comparing the values obtd. in steps (a) and (c) to determine the % of methane in the gas stream.    In the first embodiment the Pt (12) and Pd (14) catalysts are pref. connected in series and are pref. both coated on thermistors (13, 15). The distinctive feature of the second embodiment is that a high thermoelec. material (112) with a high thermal resistance is present, with the Pt (114) and Pd (116) being coated on the material at different areas.    ADVANTAGE -   The presence of hydrocarbons other than methane does not interfere with the methane-generated response.
A large scale, fully enclosed, highly automated composting facility has a composting bay for receiving organic waste material. The composting bay defined by a frame holds the waste material and a compost handling machine adapated to move along the bay frame agitates the compost. A ventilation system in communication with the interior bay conducts air into the compost and helps control the temperature of the compost. A sensor placed in a recess in the bay actuates the ventilation system when the temperature of the compost rises.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A large scale, highly automated system for decomposing waste material. The temperature of the waste held in the composting bay is automatically controlled.
A biomethanation process for organic substrates includes treating the substrate in a first reactor to form acid anions, the first reactor contains hydrolytic fermentative bacteria. The aq. prepn. contg. dissolved organic anions is then passed through an ion exchanger so that the organic acid anions are adsorbed and sepd. from the remaining aq. prepn. The desorbed acids are passed to a second reactor contg. methanogenic bacteria which convert the acids to methane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   An improved anaerobic microbial biomethanation process for the prodn. of methane from organic materials. The process enhances the volumetric reaction rates for biomethanation and removes toxicants inhibitory to biomethanation.
A fuel gas is generated by contacting an aq. acetone soln. with powdered silicon and exposing the resultant prod. to light.    The light source is the sun, or a mercury, xenon, halogen or incandescent lamp. The acetone is 5-95wt.% of the soln., and the silicon is 0.01-1 g/100 ml aq. soln. The silicon is pref. a prod. that has been thermally reduced either under vacuum or in a current of hydrogen; particle dia. is 0.1-500 micron. The activity of the silicon may be enhanced by deposition on its surface of an electroconductive film of a metal, e.g., Pt, Ru, Rh or Ti, or a polymer, e.g., polyacetylene, polypyrrole or polythiophene.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A method of utilising light energy, esp. solar energy, is provided. A fuel gas of high calorific value, comprising mainly methane and hydrogen, is obtd. The light, including long wavelength light, is used efficiently, and the heat of the solar energy is also utilised.
An appts. for producing CH4 from Al2O3 or Al(OH)3 and coal comprises: a) a means for supplying crushed coal, b) a means for mixing Al(OH)3, coal and a catalyst in fixed proportions and supply to the upper part of, c) a furnace to heat the mixt. to at least 1250 deg. C. consisting of; 9) a rotating chamber having a conical fluidized preheat bed in the upper part sepd. from a cylindrical firebrick lining in the lower part by a transition ring and a weir at the base for collecting the molten prods, ii) a burner in the base providing a ring of stationary flames, iii) a means to rotate the chamber, an outlet to carry the molten reaction prods. to, d) a quench chamber and thence to e) a hydrolysis chamber in which the Al4C3 is hydrolysed with H2O or steam and the CH4-contg. gases can be removed separately from the sludge contg. Al(OH)3 and impurities, f) a means for recovering Al(OH)3 for recycling to (b).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Overcomes the alleged problems associated with the use of Al4C3 to produce CH4 alluded to in prior art eg. US4,310,334.
The process comprises mixing a combustible gas obtd. by fermentation of organic wastes with air and burning and the gas produced by combustion is contacted with raw material water by counter flowing to shift any water soluble components in the produced gas, with sensible heat in the raw material water. The equipment comprises a tubular body made of an erosion-resistant material having a liq. storage part at the bottom and an exhaust openingg at the top, a gas burner at the lower part of the tube, a drip cover, a filler layer consisting of ceramics, and a raw material sprayer at the upper part. The compsn. of the combustible gas used is; methane gas 60%, carbon disulphide 39% and hydrogen sulphide 0.02%. The artificial hot spring analysis values are; a temp. of 50 deg.C, a pH of 4.7. The isolated components (mg/l) were metasilicic acid at 25.0, carbon dioxide at 55.3, and the cathodic ions in mg/l were chlorine at 37.1, sulphuric acid at 39.0 and hydrocarbonic acid at 116.0.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for artificial hot springs by using an anaerobic fermentation recovery gas not considered as a fuel gas.
A soil conditioner is characterised in that a mixt. of active sludges of organic waste water and waste paper pulp fibres is blended with 5-30 wt.% of Oya-ishi powder and the mixt. is fermented in aerobic conditions to a carbon content of 30-40 wt.%. Processes for prepn. of soil conditioners contg. Oya-ishi are also claimed.    Instead os mixt. of active sludges and waste paper pulp fibres, pref. only active sludges or the mixt. of wastes from livestock industry and sawdust and/or bark may be used. The obtd. soil conditioner has a typical compsn. of 1.5% N, 1.2% P2O5, 0.55% K2O, and 33.5% SiO2 and has a pH of 7.8 and a cation exchange capacity of 32.9 me.    ADVANTAGE -   This soil conditioner has no odour and shows the synergistic effects due to high cation exchange capacity, low phosphoric acid adsorption, and basicity, of Oya-ishi.
Novel eta phase carbide, nitride or carbonitride compsn. (I) is of surface area greater than 2 m2/g and of formula X6Y6Za X = Mo and/or W, Y = Fe, Co and/or Ni, Z = C and/or N; a = 1, 2 or between 1 and 2. A method of producing or converting hydrocarbons or alcohols comprises contacting a fluid carbon-contg. feedstock in a reducing environment at elevated temp. and pressure with (I) as catalyst. Method of producing an eta phase compsn. comprises providing a precursor cpd. having at least two eta phase forming metals and a ligand contg. carbon and/or nitrogen, and thermally decomposing the precursor in a non-oxidising atmos.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conventional eta phase compsns. are of low surface area, difficult to synthesise, and have not been used as catalysts. Compsns. (I) are of high surface area, and used as catalysts; they provide results similar to those obtd. with expensive noble metal catalysts, but at lower cost. Reactions catalysed are e.g., hydrogenation of carbon monoxide to hydrocarbons (e.g., (m)ethane and alcohols (e.g., (m)ethanol, hydrogenation of olefins (e.g., 1-hexane) and of aromatics (e.g., benzene), isomerisation, and dehydrogenation (e.g., of methyl cyclohexane to toluene).
Purificn. of crude gas (I) for NH3 synthesis is carried out by scrubbing with N2, by multistage cooling of (I), partial condensation and scrubbing with liquid N2 (II) to remove impurities such as CO and CH4. The novelty is that the cooled, partly condensed (I) from stage 1 is sepd. into a liquid and gaseous fraction and only the gaseous fraction is scrubbed with (II).    (I) is cooled to a temp. near the m.pt. of CH4, pref. to 80-90 K, before sepg. the fractions. The gaseous fraction is cooled below the m.pt. of CH4, pref. to a temp. near the m.pt. of CO, esp. to 68-75 K, and passed to the (II) scrubber at this temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is suitable for purifying (I) with a high CH4 content, without risking sepn. of solid CH4 in the (I) scrubbing column.
The dung is removed from the livestock place and is taken to a site for storage by a process of layer-by-layer freezing during the winter period. Piles of snow are arranged along the edges of the site.    With the onset of the warm season, melting of the stored dung occurs and a liq. fraction flows from the site and is collected in a container. The remaining, thawing solid fraction is mixed with peat, taken out from the storage site and is stored in a stack. As more dung thaws the process of adding peat and storage is repeated. During each subsequent cycle the fresh mixt.    of the solid dung fraction and the peat is mixed with the previously stored mixt. Finally, after forming the whole mixt. into piles, it is composted.    The process requires insignificant material and labour costs, improves the sanitation conditions of the farm, and is environmentally advantageous.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for the utilisation of livestock dung for fertiliser prodn. The dung can be completely utilised and labour costs are reduced. Bul.5/7.2.89
For better efficiency the design includes humus tank with inlet and discharge nozzles for initial and for fermented sludge resp., and outlet opening with pipe leading to outlet chamber (12) which contains swirl vanes (16) and truncated cone (19) of dehumidifier, channels (19) and discharge nozzle (10) leading back through outlet opening to the humus tank. Beyond the dehumidifier, chamber (12) passes in turn into ejector containing convergent duct (13), mixing chamber (14) with central discharge nozzle (11) on valve (20) of pipe (8) connected to pipeline of natural gas, and expanding duct (15) connected to pipeline with central valve leading to users of biogenic methane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. for treatment and utilisation of biogenic methane can be used for anaerobic fermentation of organic refuse in plants for purification of domestic and production effluents. Increased efficiency of appts., reduced investment outlay and operational cost as compared with wet gasholders for biogenic methane mix with natural gas.
Hydrocarbon liq. is heated to above its b.pt. in the furnace (1) and charge to the bottom of the column through the coil (2). The latter vapourises a side fraction removed through the line (3). The formed vapour is transferred to the middle of the column through a line (4). The unvapourised liq. feed from the coil (2) is charged through a line (5) up the column against down coming liq. stream (6). Interaction of the streams gives low b.pt. liq. which is removed to storage.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is used in the gas and (petro)chemical industries. Its advantage low energy requirement and possibility of controlling compsn. of side fraction.
Power generation system in which fowl droppings are burnt in a combustion furnace, and the combustion gas is fed from the furnace to a boiler combined with a steam turbine coupled to a generator.    USE -   For utilising fowl droppings.
In the thermochemical treatment of organic sludge comprising reacting thermochemically water-contg. organic sludge at high temp. and at high pressure and obtaining an oily substance from the reaction prod. obtd., the reaction prod. comprising the oily substance H2O and residual solid is put in a reduced atmos. to evaporate low b. pt. components in the oily substance and to obtain mixed steam comprising steam and oily components. The remaining reaction prod. is heated by mixed steam as a heat source to evaporate water in the remaining reaction prod.    Specifically sepd. soln. obtd. by solid-liq. sepn. of the remaining reaction prod. after reducing the atmos. is also heated by the mixed steam to evaporate water in the soln.    ADVANTAGE -   Sewage is converted to a useful oily substance with a high heating value of 9000 KCal/Kg and with a low viscosity of 40 cp at 50 deg.C in a yield of 10-20% based on dried organic substances in the sewage.
The membrane is made of modified PVA which composed of ionic group-contg. units and vinyl alcohol units.    Pref. the ionic group has of carboxylic, sulphonic, sulphuric and phosphoric gps., and is quaty. ammonium of amino gp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membrane can be applied to the sepn. of water vapour from a gas mixture, e.g. water vapour and methane, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen or air. The conventional PVA membrane shows extremely low separability of water vapour when RH of gas mix. is low. The separability of water vapour almost does not change greatly with relative humidity.
Bio-gas is prepd. by improved anaerobic fermentation in a stratified bed reactor of 60-100 sq.m/cu.m specific area at 35+1 deg.C for a max of 24 hours. Biological substrates (mainly liq. manure) are fermented in the presence of methane producing bacteria.
Combustible gas produced by the fermentation of ground domestic rubbish or agricultural or industrial waste is collected by lining a fermenter with a flexible airtight bag open at its lower end, gluing the lower end to the inner faces of the vertical walls of the fermenter at a level beneath the lowest level of liquid within it, and suspending the upper end of the bag with straps from a structure above the fermenter supporting a cover protecting and insulating the assembly. An anaerobic fermenter is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas can be collected from large reinforced concrete digesters without corrosion or damage from pressure variation.
A process for treating lavender (Lavandula Officinalis Chaix; Lavandula Spica D.C.) after distillation comprises drying the straws obtd. after the distillation, thrashing the straws to separate the flowers from the stems, cleaning flowers and stems separately, chopping the stems and separately calibratingg the flowers and the stems so as to obtain final prods. which are sterile, homogeneous, hydrophobic and lipophilic.    Also claimed is the straw obtd. from the process comprising chopped stems in which have been reincorporated by vaporisation, essential oils of aromatic plants, and added edible waxes acting as binder, the obtd. mixt. being used as fuel.    USE -   The prod. is used e.g. for combustion, treating pollutions of aq. surfaces, floors and purifying rain water.
Charcoal is made by destructive distn. of prods. from plants which grow again quickly specially banana trees.    Instead of the 850 deg.C required for wood from forestry trees and peat, only 550-600 deg.C woudl be needed.    ADVANTAGE -   African people have always used forestry trees including the roots for firewood or charcoal. Ethiopia's forests have been reduced from 85% to 6% and deserts have replaced the forests with catastrophic results. The invention woudl help to remedy this situation.
A plant for thermal waste treatment comprises; a pyrolysis reactor converting waste into partially burned gas(g) and pyrolysis residue(r), a combustion chamber supplied with the pretreated above gas and residue, a heat exchanger integrated in the combustion chamber wall and a hot circuit for hot gas(h) e.g. air for reactor returned via heat exchanger whereby an additional heat exchanger is added to the hot circuit for the removal of excess heat from that hot circuit.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The arrangement can be used for thermal treatment of waste materials. The arrangement prevents overheating of the combustion chamber walls as well as solidifying of molten slag at that wall. The inlet- and outlet temperature of gas in the pyrolysis reactor is kept constant.
Method of treating sewerage sludge comprises dewatering the sludge, mixing with vermiculite, and composting the mixt. Opt. nitrogenous fertiliser is added to the composted mixt.;and/or ground rock phosphate is added before composting; and/or wood chips are added before composting and are screened out after composting; and/or sawdust and/or straw are added before composting.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Relatively inexpensive rock phosphate present during composting is converted to readily available, soluble phosphate. Addn. of nitrogenous fertiliser replaces nitrogen lost during composting. Wood chips, straw and/or sawdust can be used to replace part of the vermiculite bulking agent and reduce costs. The vermiculite absorbs water from the sludge so that expensive heat drying or complicated dewatering machinery need to be used for dewatering the sludge.
A method for improving the extn. of oil from a reservoir by increasing the population of endogenous microorganisms. The microorganisms are isolated from the reservoir and the nutrient which limits their growth is identified. Nutrient is added to the reservoir for sufficient time to population to allow the of microorganisms increase to the level where they exhibit surface active properties.    Alternatively the microorganisms may be cultured outside the wall and then reintroduced with nutrient. Max. surfactant prodn. is associated with cycles or nutrient provision and deprivation.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Enhancement of oil recovery in the secondary extraction process. Reduction of the amount of chemical surfactants required and hence reduction of costs. Microorganisms used are those which are adapted to the conditions in the relevant reservoir. Cycles of nutrition and depletion produce microorganisms with a reduced cell vol., up to 70% redn. facilitating penetration of small pores in the reservoir rock.
A bag for domestic and garden refuse, also wet industrial waste, is made of decomposable material which rots and turns into compost just like its contents. This bag has at least at the bottom an inlay of adsorbent material, either loose or as an integral part of the bag.    Typically, the bag, made e.g. of paper, has a loose inlay of an adsorbent, enclosed between decomposable walls, where the upper wall is permeable to moisture but not the lower wall. The adsorbent layer is 1-3cm thick and consists of a material which accelerates the composting action and ameliorates the soil. It can consists of bentonite, sawdust, wooden shreds, textile fibres, rock or bone meal, mixed with calcium peroxide, also with a perfume.    ADVANTAGE -   This can absorb moisture from the wet garbage without losing much strength. The bag itself turns into compost and prevents the escape of umpleasant odours.
To treat organic waste water contg. SO4(2-) by an anaerobic fermentation, a dye selectively inhibiting increase of H2SO4 reducing bacteria coexisting with CH4 fermenting bacteria is added to the organic waste water.    The dye used is pref. at least one of crystal violet B, fuchsin or gentian violet B etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water is effectively treated as formation of sulphide ion, which inhibits methane fermentation, and consumption of H2, which is needed for formation of CH4, are prevented. Corrosion of a tank or pipes made of iron by H2S gas generated by the reaction of H2SO4 with the H2SO4, reducing bacteria is prevented.
A substance selectively inhibiting increase of H2SO4 reducing bacteria coexisting with CH4 fermenting bacteria is added to the organic waste water.    Pref. the substance used is verapamil hydrochloride, chloropromazine hydrochloride, o-cresol, m-cresol, trinitrophenol, etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water is effectively treated as formation of sulphide ion, which inhibits methane fermentation, and consumption of H2, which is needed for formation of CH4, are prevented. Corrosion of a tank or pipes made of Fe by H2S gas generated by the reaction of H2SO4 with the H2SO4 reducing bacteria is prevented.
A surfactant selectively inhibiting increase of H2SO4 reducing bacteria coexisting with CH4 fermenting bacteria is added to the organic waste water.    Pref. the surfactant used is octadecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, dodecylbenzene sulphonic acid, cetyltrimethylammonium bormide bromide etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water is effectively treated as formation of sulphide ion, which inhibits methane fermentation, and consumption of H2, which is needed for formation of CH4, are prevented. Corrosion of a tank or pipes made of Fe by H2S gas generated by the reaction of H2SO4 with the H2SO4 reducing bacteria is prevented.
In the treatment of organic waste water contg. sulphate ions by anaerobic fermentation, and antibiotic selectively which inhibits the increase of H2SO4 reducing bacteria coexisting with CH4, fermenting bacteria is added to the organic waste water.    Pref. the antibiotic used is at least one of bacitracin, carbenicillin, cycloheximide, dihydrostreptomycin, fradiomycin sulphate, gentamycin sulphate crystal, lincomycin hydrochloride, sodium methicillin, neomycin sulphate, sodium novobiocin, penicillin, rifampicin, josamycin, kitasamycin or oleandomycin etc.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic waste water can be effectively treated as formation of sulphide ions, (which inhibits methane fermentation, and consumption of H2, which is needed for formation of CH4) are prevented. Corrosion of a tank or pipes made of iron by H2S gas generated by the reaction of H2SO4 with the H2SO4 reducing bacteria is prevented.
Prodn. of demercurised synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas from mercury-contg. fossil fuels comprises (a) reacting a fossil fuel feed contg. 0.01-1000 ppm of mercury by partial oxidn. with a free-oxygen contg. gas with or without a temp. moderator in a reaction zone provided with a reducing atmos. at 1800 deg.F to 3000 Deg.F and a pressure of 10 atmos. or higher to produce a raw effluent gas stream of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water vapour, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, carbon oxysulphide, entrained slag and/or ash, and optionally methane, ammonia, nitrogen and argon; and wherein all of the mercury in the feed is converted into elemental mercury vapour which leaves the reactor zone entrained in the raw effluent gas stream; (b) cooling, cleaning, and demoisturising the raw effluent gas stream from (a); wherein the cooling, cleaning and demoisturising includes (i) passing the raw effluent gas stream through a radiant cooler sepg. out slag and/or ash and cooling to 500 deg.C - 800 deg.F by non-contact heat exchange with water; (ii) further cooling the gas stream in a convection cooler and scrubbing with water to remove entrained particles; (iii) demoisturising the cooled and cleaned gas stream; and (c) introducing this gas stream into a solvent gas scrubbing zone at -50 deg.C to 80 deg.C and 10 atmos. or higher pressure the gas is contacted with a solvent condensing 20-100 wt.% of the mercury vapour and removing 90-100 wt.% of the sulphur-contg. gases.    ADVANTAGE -   In this process, the amount of mercury in synthesis gas, reducing gas, and fuel gas may be reduced to a safe level to avoid contaminating the atmosphere and catalysts, and to prevent possible health problems.
The still, for steam distn. of biomass from eucalyptus or other bio-mass, consists of a cylindrical body with conical top and cylindrical part with outlet and lid. A rotating shaft in body turns levelling arms and control arms for the outlet for biomass deposited on the base of the still. Screw feeder for the biomass is controlled by a level control and steam enters at the bottom through .
The plant comprises a kiln into which protrudes the lower end of at least one inclined tunnel. The dimensions of the tunnels allow 3 closed containers full of wood to be converted into charcoal, to be placed in single file, transported by a chain, or roller conveyor system. As each container emerges from the door in the lower end of the tunnel it is taken by the same conveyor system in a closed loop, through a cooling-unit before the load of charcoal is emptied into the hopper and the container is refilled with wood from the reloading point prior to reentering the inclined tunnel at its upper end.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Production of charcoal is a continuous, rather than a batch process. A higher yield of charcoal per unit of feedstock is obtained, whilst at the same time the closed containers prevent the emission of tars and other atmospheric pollutants.
After material not of natural origin has been removed from house-hold refuse, e.g. with tins magnetically sepd. and after visual examination, the material of organic origin is applied to one end of an elongated tunnel, without prior reduction, to form the start of an elongated pile, which while moving through the tunnel is converted into compost by aerobically acting micro-organisms. The material is progressively turned over in the direction of the tunnel outlet, with water content maintained at 30-60 (40-50)%.    After leaving the tunnel, fully formed compost may be sieved into separate fractions in dependence on proposed use. Incoming material may be piled to fill the tunnel cross-section before being advanced and fresh material added for the transit which may take several weeks.    ADVANTAGE -   Large amts. of material are effectively and cheaply composted.
Biogas is recovered from liq. organic matter in industrial plants above ground, by charging the material into underground, natural, porous and/or cracked, permeable geological strata, for gas formation and later storage, using known technological decomposition measures. The reaction conditions, e.g. pressure, temp. and pH are ensured only by the choice of a suitable depth and geological conditions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Applns. are in microbiology, farming, and the fields of energy and natural gas. The process is economical and safe, and reduces pollution of the environment. The system has a long life. The amt. of corrosive prods. is reduced and controlled, and risk of poisoning or explosion is lessened. Natural conditions can be used for the gas formation process, and the cracked and porous geological layers provide natural seed surfaces for microorganisms.
Method of, and apparatus for, refinement of organic material by (a) feeding finely divided base material of organic origin into a closed reactor; (b) decomposing the base material into carbon powder and reaction fluids by caronisation in the reactor; (c) cooling the carbon powder; and (d) forming the carbon powder to a desired particle size.    The base material is pref. predried to obtain a water content of 5 - 10 %. The cooling step further includes mixing the carbon powder with sawdust, spices, water and/or fat, and the forming step produces a particle size appropriate for charcoal for grilling and/or smoking of foodstuffs. The cooling step further includes injecting of carbon dioxide and/or water or other activating agents into the carbon powder to produce active coal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The dynamic system can be transported to the origin of the waste material, the organic material being refined at low cost. The organic materials originate from agricultural, forest and slaughterhouse waste, in which the waste materials are not contaminated by undesired substances.
Appts. for detecting a combustible gas comprising a wheatstone bridge circuit with detector (5) and reference (6) elements includes a reaction control block having a dust shield cover (1) and two chambers, one contg. a detector element and the other a reference element. A partition parallel to and spaced from the cover defines a single plenum space (2) with an opening (3) to each chamber; it totally encloses the two chambers except for the openings (3) which are in communication with each other via the plenum space (2).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In detection of e.g. CH4 etc.. Diffusion of the combustible gas is limited so that the reaction rate at the detector element is controlled and detector operation is improved.
The wet sludge cake moves on a negatively-charged conveyor, termed the conveyor cathode, through an interface with a positively -charged conveyor anode, which has electrically-conducting metallic bristles. The wet cake is in contact with the conveyor cathode and with the bristles of the conveyor anode over the same distance, and a constant electric current of 48 volts d.c. is passed through the wet cake. Water is removed from the wet cake and can be recycled. Dry cake is removed from the conveyor anode.    USE -   For sewage sludge which is not bio-degradable and which contains too much water and cannot be burned.
Simplified design and lower power intake for fermenting waste manure or animals farm effluent, are ensured with the mixer comprising two pairs of longitudinal partitions. The latter separate the tank into a central and two peripheral sections interconnected by pipe with gas flow interrupter. Each partition pair carries attached inclined guide ribs with the slope angle of one pair opposite to that of the other pair, while the upper edge of each rib is above the lower edge of the preceding rib in the direction of the motion of medium.    ADVANTAGE -   The unit eliminates mechanical linkages which exhibit a high risk of failure, and takes up less power for stirring.
Manure from battery livestock is processed by pressing it to form a filter cake and a filtrate, and freeze concentrating the filtrate to form an aq mixt which can be released into the drainage system and a concentrate which is added to the filter cake and processed into a useful fertiliser residue.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process allows manure from livestock batteries to be processed into useful or disposable materials. The compression stage can be carried out by gasification with biogas. Freeze concentration of the resulting filtrate can be carried out in known freeze concentration units as used in the food industry and gives an aq phase which is sufficiently pure to be released into the drains. The concentrate when combined with the filter cake from the original pressing gives a residual prod useful as a fertiliser.
Garbage-treating appts. comprises a fermenting tank connected to garbage-charging opening, driving unit for stirring garbage in fermenting tank, and purifying vessel for transferring muddy matter in fermenting tank.    ADVANTAGE -   Not much water nor burning fuel are necessary unlike conventional technique.
There is a preheating furnace, a carbonising furnace, a quenching furnace of the same form, a material charge/discharge port, a circular floor having the furnaces and the port on it. Four baskets contg. material are circulated through the furnaces and port respectively in order.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Woody waste such as saw chips can be formed into solid fuel effectively.
The reactor or bio-filter with orientated carrier, for methanisation of organic residues and effluents, consists of a series of different devices (1 to 10) giving high bio-methanisation rate, efficient purificn., high gas yield and elimination of the non-degradable fractioh, maintaining a high concn. of bacterial bio-mass, free and adhered to the orientated carrier.
A pile of crude organic waste, esp. of mixed origin including household residues, from which unpleasant smells can issue, when temporarily stored in a silo is covered with a layer of finally formed compost, a few cm thick (e.g. up to 5 cm) which prevents escape of unwanted smells. The compost cover may be delivered from a scatter roller incorporated in the shovel of a wheeled loader.    USE -   Esp. for municipal collection points, where incoming waste may be too extensive for immediate treatment and some storage is needed.
In an elongated tunnel for composting organic material, esp. with the aid of earth-worms of the Eisenia Foetide type, the tunnel has an initial horizontal section into which the worms are delivered. A long intermediate section slopes up to a final further horizontal section where worms can be extracted for re-use. An aperture in the tunnel roof enables fresh material to be added at any point, but is normally closed to keep out rain. Floor-holes, esp. in the inclined central tunnel section, discharge decomposition liq. into a channel for collection and use as liq. fertiliser. Air-inlet holes are provided along the tunnel.    USE -   For large-scale humus prodn.
Domestic refuse or sewage sludge with high organic material content is predried by a rotting process before entering a low temp. carbonisation unit. For rotting, the raw material may be mixed with clarified sludge or with partially treated domestic refuse.    In the rotting unit, cylindrical or spherical shapes produced by an extrusion press are loosely held in a container with perforated base and/or sidewalls conveyed in roofed parallel channels with smooth vertical side-walls. External sealing lips engaging the channel wall, bar access to air blown or sucked round the containers. Emerging air is directed through further organic waste, e.g. chopper plant material in stacks or containers in order to counteract smells discharged from the rotted material.    USE -   Esp. for pretreating material from which oil is to be made. Processing costs are reduced.
In the treatment of organic wastes by anaerobic fermentation, by a batch, storage or continuous operation, the plant is pref. all under one roof and formed of basic elements which can be added to when necessary. From an initial tank with a base pit to receive heavy solid material, and from whose surface floating light material is removed, the wastes are transferred into a main fermentation tank.    The fermenter substrate may be seeded with sludge from an adjacent container holding a heater, with the sludge seed delivered via a sieve. Transfer of material between working units may be with a gantry crane. To aid alignment of units during assemblage, these are pref. mounted on rollers. Digester substrate used in one operation may be stored until the need for such material reoccurs.    USE -   A wide range of organic wastes can be treated on any scale.
Controllable solids are recoverd from slurry based on the flushing or process water in plant for producing liqnite, or for treating the material by briquette formation etc. in a hydrocyclone (9). To aid the sepn. process, from a silo (3) and its associated metering unit (4) the slurry is first treated with 0.1-0.5 vol.% of lignite powder or eroded briquette dust. A second side (6) and the associated metering unit (8) supply mineral oil or comparable residues to act as wetting aqent.    The slurry and its additives, which may also include up to 5% of biologically active sludge as used in sewage treatment, and also fluorecculent or florfaction aqent, are intensively mixed in the pump (2) supplying the cyclone. Solids from the hydrocyclone can be used directly as fuel. The sepd. water is re-used or discharged into a drain (15).    ADVANTAGE -   Solids are recovered rapidly for use, without the long wait needed for known methods avoiding open-air settlement tanks.
While a charge of potatoes for animal foodstuff is being treated with steam from one of a pair of containers holding low pressure steam from a boiler not fumes from the boiler furnace are used for indirect heating of fresh air received from a blower in a heat exchanger.    The hot air is injected into the conveyor system (3) for supplying washed potatoes to the treatment container, and while in counter-flow with the potatoes moving to fill the second container preheats these travelling pototes. Air discharged, e.g. at 50-80 deg. C. from the inlet end of the potato conveyor, is used either for space heating or as combustion air for the boiler furnace.    ADVANTAGE -   Primary energy is more effectively utilised and nutrient loss reduced.
Isomerisation of parrafin (I) comprises contacting (I) with H-mordenite catalyst (II) contg. rare earth metal oxide (rare earth metal/alumina 0.0042-1.27 g.atom/mol) and platinum metal (0.1-1.5 wt. %) under hydrogen atmos.    H- or NH4-Mordenite is treated with platinum metals salt soln. to give ratio of platinum metal mordenite 0.1-1.5 wt.%. Rare earth metal salt is supported on the platinum metals contg. mordenite, the resulting matter is roasted at 400-1000 deg. C under airstream to prepare (II). Rare earth metal/alumina must be collected to 0.0012-1.27 (pref. 0.021-0.85)g.atom/mol. Alternatively, (II) is prepd. by roasting mixt. of rare earth metal oxide (or rare earth metal salt) and platinum metal contg. mordenite at 200-1000 deg. C. Pref. mixt. of hydrogen/(I)(0.5-10, 1-3 (vol/vol)) is fed to catalyst bed at WHSV 0.5-10 hr-1. Isomerisation temp. is 230-280 deg. C and pressure is 5-50kg/sq/cmG.    ADVANTAGE -   Octane value of (I) is raised by isomerisation procedure. (I) is isomerised under more mild conditions efficiently.
Feather residues obtd. during mechanical cleaning of feather beds A) are mixed with at least 50 wt% decomposable carbohydrate material, esp. bark mulch, saw dust and/or shredded straw and B) the mixt. is composted and processed into a soil improvement agent. Pref. up to 5 wt% urea and up to 5 wt% lime or Mg marl are added to the mixt. During the composting a) O2 is periodically supplied to the mixt. and b) the mixt. is protected against rain.    ADVANTAGE -   A difficult to break down material is readily converted into a useful product.
In the low temp. activation of natural gas or mixts. resembling natural gas, to cause (partial) chemical synthesis reactions to give higher hydrocarbons, or reactions with other elements or cpds., the natural gas or other mixt. is combined with a zeolite in the H-form, pre-treated with activated H2, at up to 700 deg.K and up to 30 MPa, in presence of H2. Activation is applied to a Si-rich zeolite, e.g. mordenite, erionite, ZSM, ZK or LZ types, the alkali content of which has been lowered to below 0.04 val/kg by known methods, e.g. treatment with mineral acid and/or solns. contg. NH4 ions; the zeolite may be in pure form, or as mouldings contg. additives.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is economical in energy and environment-friendly, and gives mainly 3-8C hydrocarbons. Gas mixts. include biogas, gas given off during decomposition, waste gas from sewage reactors, circulation gas from synthesis of NH3 or methanol, and residual gas from ethylene prodn. plant.
Optimum reaction temp. is produced in organic material rotting to form compost by adding material with high heat-storage capacity, e.g. clay, sand, loam or material with high latent heat storage capacity. The additive is applied between layers of rotting material, pref. in the area nearest to the air zone.
A prod. is adapted to be fermented under anaerobic conditions to produce a moist, friable, fermented gravitationally and microbiologically stable animal feed supplement having a pH of less than 4.25 and which is readily reduced to a non-agglomerating prod.    The prod. consists of an admixt. of mechanically dewatered corn bran (A) having a solids content of 30-50 wt.% and a conc. corn steep liquor (B) having a solids content of 45-55 wt.% in a ratio of (A):(B) 3:1 to 1:1, such that the resulting admixt. readily compacts under its own wt. to a bulk density of 50-65 lbs./cu.ft. and has a pH of less than 4.5, a solids content of 35-50 wt.% and a protein content of at least 20% on a dry matter basis.
Appts. to ferment organic matter at high rate comprises an inclined rotary drum coupled with a drive gear to rotate the drum in either direction and organic matter feed hopper disposed above the drum having stirring spirals on the inner wall.    USE -   Used for making fertilisers/feeds.
Part of the raw material of weeds and tree pruning residues is converted to slabs or blocks from which rectangular containers are built. These are fitted with multiple organic layers, alternating with layers of a culture, calcium hydroxide or hydrate and particles of cast iron. A first phase of aerobic fermentation is initiated by implanting chimney modules and mutliple air inlets, and adding purine to maintain the humidity. This is supplied from a small tank to which it returns after passing through the organic material. For the second phase of anaerobic fermentation, the prod. is transferred to another compartment in which it is compacted to remove air, covered and supplied with purine periodically.
Fertilisers comprise Thermoactinomyces mycelium supported on a porous carrier with a pH of 7.5-9.5. Pref. the fertilisers are produced by kneading 70-80 pts. wt. of the carrier with 20-30 pts. wt. poultry manure and fermenting the mixt. at 55-80 deg.C. with aeration for at least 5 days. The carrier has a particle size of 6-30 mesh. The poultry manure has a C content of less than 15% and an H2O content of 25-60%.    ADVANTAGE -   Fertilisers have good storage properties (growth may be maintained without contamination from filamentous fungi or bacteria) and provide a good source of plant growth hormones and vitamins.
Quantification of methanogenic bacteria is effected by irradiating a sample of a medium contg. the bacteria with light of wavelength 395-440 nm for up to 1 sec, and measuring the resulting fluoroescence by continuous-flow cytometry.    USE -   The process is esp. used for monitoring the methane prodn. capacity of anaerobic digesters (biogas reactors), allowing automatic control of such digesters. It may also be used to measure methanogenic bacteria levels in the human or animal digestive tract and for monitoring natural anaerobic fermentation processes in ecosystems.
Use of tannin contained in the bark of re-afforested eucalyptus trees for mfr. of charcoal constitutes a great industrial advance in view of the consumption of this material in the internal and external markets. It brings a return more than compensating for the items used in re-afforestation, is a factor in reducing pollution, improves the charcoal quality and has positive repercussions on the preservation of the natural forests.
The mobility of fluids in a substantially oil-free zone of a subterranean formation is enhanced by introducing into the zone a compsn. (I) comprising (a) water; (b) supercritical or gaseous carbon dioxide, gaseous nitrogen or gaseous 1-3C hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof; and (c) one or more polysaccharide surfactant of formula RO((R1O)xSaccz, where R = monovalent 7-24C organic radical; R1 = divalent 2-4C hydrocarbon radical; x = average 0-12; Sacc = a moiety derived from a 5-6C reducing saccharide; z = 0.7-10.0.    ADVANTAGE -   (I) is effective for reducing the mobility of fluids in, or plugging, oil-free zones without significantly reducing fluid flow into or within oil-containing zones; recovery of oil from the latter zone by a drive fluid is thereby enhanced.
The equipment has accumulating chamber with manure pipeline, heat-exchanger, heater connected to manifold, and drying chamber. Heat-pump has evaporator connected to manure pipe; condensate-collector is linked to drying chamber; heat-pump condenser has circulation system with part inside heat-exchanger chamber. Mixer/absorber is connected to drying chamber.    Digested manure has moisture content = 90-92%, temp. = 40-45 deg. C; it moves along pipe (9) from container (1) to evapn. container (10) of heat-pump (11) where heat is transferred through condenser (17) to heat-exchanger (5). From (10) manure goes to mixer/absorber (12) to be mixed with absorbent (e.g. digested manure dried to moisture-content 20-30%). Dried peat or chopped straw can be used as equipment is first started up. Manure mass has moisture content 60-65%; it goes to drier (13), where heat from (20) generated by burning biogas, reduces moisture to 30%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In aqriculture, as treatment device for manure. Power consumption is reduced during drying plus economy in use of water. Bul.14/15.4.89
A gas sensitive body made of tin oxide semiconductor is repeatedly heated and cooled and CO gas is detected when the gas sensitive body is under low temp. condition. Dirt on the surface of the body is removed when it is under high temp. condition. The gas sensitive body is made into a thin plate form and fixed on a substrate where a notch is provided for controlling the heat conductivity between gas sensitive body and the substrate.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   By providing gas sensitive body in a thin plate shape, and by providing the notch in the substrate, time for heating and cooling the body can be greatly, i.e., the time necessary for one heat cycle is shortened to around 30 secs.
Wrapped bacterial for anaerobic treatment is prepd. by adding cellulose powder supported with anaerobic bacteria into a swelled high water-absorbable resin and then crosslinking the resin.    Typically, cellulose is decomposed during anaerobic decomposition to form lower fatty acids to reduce the pH and the concn. of free NH3 is reduced even in a substrate with a low C/N ratio, and an environment suitable for increasing methane bacteria is provided.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for anaerobic treatment of drug of domestic animals. As the cellulose used is decomposed to reduce the pH and the concn. of free NH3, even a substrate with a low C/N ratio, e.g. dung of domestic animals, is effectively methane fermented. Outflow of the bacteria is prevented.    In an example, cellulose powder was mixed with 1 l of aq. soln. contg. anaerobic bacterial (seed sludge). To the mixed soln., 10 g of polyacrylate acid high mol. water absorbable resin (absorbing capacity of 46 g/g) was added with stirring. To fix the bacteria 2 g of CaCl2 was added and the soln. was stirred for 40 mins. The unreacted soln. was removed by a sieve with openings of 20 meshes and the wrapped bacteria were obtd. by washing with a soln. for cultivating methane bacteria.
Microbial degradation of trichloroethylene (I) is effected by treating (I) with (1) Pseudomonas mendocuria KR-1 cells, or (2) P.putida Y2101 cells, the cells having been treated with an inducer (II) of toluene monooxygenase genes. Also claimed is degradation of (I) with a microorganism host cell contg. a plasmid which contains the toluene monooxygenase genes from (1), the host cell having been induced with (II).    Pref. the recombinant plasmid is pKy277, pky280, pKy281 or pKy282 and (II) is toluene or; the recombinant plasmid is pMy402, pMy405, pMy401 or pMy404 and (II) is isopropyl-B-D -thiogalactopyranoside; or the recombinant plasmid is pKy287 and (II) is temp.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method may be used to degrade (I) in whatever locations it may appear as a contaminant or pollutant, e.g. in water or soil. Use of the genetically engineered microorganisms is highly advantageous. They can be grown rapidly and inexpensively to very high cell densities of the difficulty of growing natural isolates such as the PmKR1 cells.
Compsns. for accelerating carbon conversion in composting processes comprise (in wt.%) 35.5-62.5 urea, 15-25 hexahydro- 1,3,5-triazine- 2,4-dione (HTD), 11.3-18.8 polyurea, 7.5-12.5 biuret and 3.8-6.3 cyanuric acid.    Pref. the comprises 50 urea, HTD, 15 polyurea, 10 biuret and 5 cyanuric acid. It is used as a soln. contg. 8.5% N and 20% solids, and is added to compostable material in an amt. sufficient to give a C:N ratio of 20-50:1 esp. 35:1.
Solid urban waste is broken-down and recycled using anaerobic fermentation. The waste is first crushed to dimensions suitable for transport on a fluidised bed. A biological sludge from an aerobic purificn. plant is conditioned at 40-100 deg. C for 10-180 mins. A suspension of the condition sludge is then mixed with the crushed waste, the mixt. being inoculated with bacterial strains which can effect anaerobic break-down.    The suspension thus obtd. is supplied to a fluidised bed anaerobic fermentation cell where it is held under fermentation conditions until the emission of biogas has effectively ceased.    USE -   The method treats urban waste to produce a material which can be used as an infill for land reclamation or which may be sorted to allow the recovery of raw materials which can be recycled or used as an energy source.
An organic material is oxidised by mixing an aq. feed stream contg. the organic cpd. with an oxidant in a liq. phase. The mixt. is compressed to a pressure in excess of 3200 psia before heating to a reaction temp. greater than 710 deg. The mixt. passes into a supercritical phse where it is held for a time sufficient to decompose the oxidant and oxidise the organic cpd. The reacted mixt. is cooled by countercurrent flow to the unreacted mixture. The reacted and cooled mixture is collected.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method may be used to treat hazardous organic cpds. such as solvents, waste water streams, etiological agents, bacteriological warfare agents, nerve gases, bilge oil, slurries or sludges contaminated with hazardous wastes, torpedo wash water, waste water contg. nitroaromatics from TNT mfr., out-of-specificaiton oils and mineral oils contaminated with PCBs. Organic cpds. are processed in a single supercritical aqueous phase to eliminate storage and mass transfer problems.
A mixed basic metal oxide catalyst (I) is of formula xA.yB.zC.qO; (A=Li,Na,K,Rb or Cs; B is a cation which has ionization state 1 greater than that of C; B is Sc,Y,La,Ac,Al, and/or B when C is Be,Ms,Ca,Sr,Ba,Ra, Zr,Cd, and/or Me; B is Ti,Zr,Hf, and/or Si when C is Sc,Yt,La,Ac,Al and/or Bo. z=1; x=0.001-0.25; y=0.001-0.25; q maintains charge balance).    Higher hydrocarbons, e.g. ethane and ethylene are produced from a gas comprising methane by oxidative coupling methane with oxygen in presence of (I). Higher hydrocarbon are produced by forming longer substituent hydrocarbon groups on an aromatic ring by oxidative coupling an aliphatic and/or alicyclic hydrocarbon, e.g. methane with an aliphatic or alicyclic substd. aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g. toluene in presence of oxygen and (I). An unsated aliphatic or alicyclic chain is produced by dehydrogenerating an aliphatic, alicyclic or aliphatic-substd. aromatic hydrocarbon in presence of (I), e.g. dehydrogenerating ethyl benzene to produce styrene.
Partial oxidn. process for producing gaseous mixts. contg. H2, CO, water, particulate carbon, gaseous materials including one or more of CO2, H2S, COS, CH4, NH3 and N2 and ash particles comprising materials including vanadium sulphur, nickel, iron, calcium, sodium, molybdenum, or their reaction prods., including sulphides and cyanides, comprises partial oxidn. of hydrocarbonaceous feed with oxygen-contg. gas. Contacting the gaseous mixt. with water in the vessel conducting gas quenching or scrubbing step or both. Removed from this vessel water stream contg. particulate carbon are dissolved gaseous materials and suspended ash particles, adding liq. organic extractant to stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Controlling the pH of water used to quench and scrub raw synthesis gas. Used available streams having basic pH for controlling pH in water-scrubber and attendant water processing equipment.
Heat from the (air) combustion phase is used during the pyrolysis phase (in inert gas) and coke from the pyrolsis phase is used as fuel for the combustion phase. Biomass and coke alternatively pass through two parallel heat storage vessels during heating of one heat storage vessel by combustion of biomass, and storage of heat therein. Additionally biomass enters the vessel which has been purcheated by in the combustion phase and is pyrolysed. The coke which is formed is separated from the gas and fed as fuel to the other vessel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pyrolysis at eg. 1000 deg.C to produce large quantities of gas with a low tar content. A small scale simple plant, generating a fast process with good process economics. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8932)
Producing refined coke over gas comprises supplying an ammonia absorbing liq. from an ammonia absorbing tower to a deoxidising tower held at 40 deg.C or less and heating the liq. up to 110 - 160 deg.C to separate a volatile acidic gas component.    USE -   Used for coke oven facilities. (J56104994-A)
Scum or (excess sludge) derived from processing waste water drained from fisheries is used as a starting material. The material is blended with fowl droppings and bone meal. The obtd. blend is granulated. The granules are aerobically fermented in a fermenter at 60-80 deg. C, and the fermented prod. is dried to give a water content of 30% to obtain organic manure.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Organic manure is useful for increasing the growth of plants. Fisheries wastes are converted into an industrially useful prod. of organic manure.
In prepn. of hydrocarbon, original hydrocarbon of or based on 5-10C paraffins is converted into lower aliphatic hydrocarbon based on 3-4C paraffin and/or olefin by the catalyst which is prepd. by treating a composite metal oxide of aluminium oxide and zirconium oxide at an Al/Zr atomic ratio of (99.5/0.5) to (94/6) with a fluorine-contg. cpd. The conversion is effected at 250-580 deg.C.    In an example, pref. original hydrocarbons include n-hexane, 3-methylpentane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, n-heptane, 2-methylhexane, 3-methylhexane, 3-ethylpentane, 2,2-dimethylpentane,2,3-dimethyl-pentane, and 2,4-dimethylpentane. The raw hydrocarbon may include up to 70 wt.% other ingredients, such as aromatic, naphthene, and olefin ones. Pref. fluorine cpds. include CCl2F2, CClF6, SF4, and NH4F.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method, being feasible at relatively low temps., makes it possible ot obtain the lower hydrocarbon with a high selectivity.
Cultivation of earthworm, comprises high water-absorbable resin being added to high water content liq. organic slurry obtd. from water treatment, wasted material treatment, etc., so as to adjust water content suitable for cultivation of earthworm. Earthworm is incubated on the slurry, whereby it eats the organic material in the slurry to grow, then the high water-absorbable resin is added to the slurry to reduce water content, followed by addn. of calcium chloride, whereby water absorbed on the resin is released to reduce viscosity of the slurry, the treated slurry containing earthworm is sieved to separate earthworm from the slurry.    ADVANTAGE -   Earthworm can be cultivated at high efficacy using wasted organic material.
A process for degrading a halogenated 1-3C aliphatic hydrocarbon comprises a) inoculating a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon contg. compsn. with a number of pseudomonas fluoroscens NRRL-B-18296 sufficient to produce degradation; and b) incubating the pseudomonas fluorescens in the compsn. in the presence of O2 or an oxygen source at a temp. which allows the pseudomonas fluorescens NRRL-B-18296 to degrade a substantial portion of the halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon to CO2, H2O and HCl.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon is degraded to non toxic prods. Using the process. The method is simple and economical.
Sealed reservoir (1) has outer chamber (2) for thickening fermented residues, and inner fermentation chamber divided by coaxial screen (5) with window into central O2 (7) and outer methane (6) fermentation chambers, linked to thickening chamber (2). Outer chamber (6) has continuous radial partitions (10) with overflow holes to form sections. Holes (14, 15) are alternately in bottom and top prts of partitions to link section together. 1st section connects through screen to central chamber (2) and is sepd. from last section by radial partition.    Residues from incoming pipe (8) enter acid-fermentation chamber (7); to create optimum temp. steam is fed in by pipe (9). Fermentation prods. leave via opening (14) to 1st section 811) of methane-fermentation chamber (6), where prods. from (7) are subject to action of methanising bacteria, converted into mineralised prod. Latter leave (11) via opening (15) for top or bottom parts of sections (12) for further methane-prodn., and section (13) where fermentation stops and residues are mineralised.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As equipment for anaerobic fermentation of residues and highly-concd. effluents, e.g. in stations for cleaning city and industrial wastes. Quality of discharged fermentation residues is increased. Bul.12/30.3.89
Garbage treating appts. comprises garbage crusher having inlet communicating with water discharge opening of sink, garbage treating vessel having inlet communicating with outlet of crusher, and water discharge pipe. Bypass pipe extends from between crusher and treating vessel to water discharge pipe to bypass treating vessel, and switch valve is provided for opening or closing inlet of treating vessel and inlet of bypass pipe.    ADVANTAGE -   Treating capacity of treating vessel can be maintained at high level for long time.
Fertilisers and soil improvement agents are prepd. by a) mixing a prod. issuing from the intestinal tract of a living animal (pref. worm compost) with powdered dehydrated vegetable matter, pref. algae, b) submitting the mixt. to conditions of temperature and humidity that allow the mixt. to convert into minerals, and maintaining it under these conditions, c) leaving the prod. to stabiliser.    ADVANTAGE -   The process quickly produces a compost that is entirely natural and is well assimilated by plants.
Catalysts for the steam reforming of hydrocarbons comprises (I) a zirconia carrier and ruthenium supported thereon; (II) a partially stabilised zirconia carrier, and rhodium and/or ruthenium supported thereon; and (III) a zirconia carrier, and supported thereon rhodium and/or ruthenium to impart reforming activity, and nickel, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, etc. Pref. (I) contains 0.01-5 wt. % ruthenium. In (II) the zirconium is stabilised by an oxide of yttrium, magnesium or cerium; Ru or Rh is 0.1-5 wt. %. In (III) Ru or Rh is 0.1-5 wt. % and the cocatalyst metal is 0.1-10 wt. %. Known methods of prepn. may be used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts have higher activity, heat resistance and mechanical strength and longer life than prior catalysts; they may be used e.g. in a hydrogen-producing plant for fuel cells, and in a small size hydrogen-producing plant.
Hydrocracking of synthetic organic wastes and/or biomass is effected by contacting the feed with H2 and/or an H-donor solvent and/or an H2 source (e.g. CO/H2O), opt. in the presence of a catalyst, at 75-700 deg.C and 450-3600 bar for a residence time of 1-360 min. in a tubular reactor with a length/dia. ratio of 350-15,000.    The feed pref. comprises synthetic organic wastes (e.g. plastics, paint residues, textiles, used tyres, etc.), opt. mixed with petroleum residua, coal, oil shale, tar-sand oil, bitumen, asphalt and/or pyrolysis oils.    ADVANTAGE -   Operating at high pressures in a narrow-bore reactor gives high reaction rates and reduces the unsaturate, coke and halogen content of the prod. (cf. DE 3442506 and 3602041).
Unripened compost, esp. unripened refuse or bark compost, is utilised by use as a carrier for nutrients, trace elements and microorganisms for the breakdown of impurities, by mixing with contaminated material, e.g. soil contaminated with harmful organic substances.    Specifically the biological breakdown of the contaminants may be in different stages, e.g. in anaerobic and/or aerobic stages, and may involve use of surface-active substances. Supply of O2 to the microorganisms may be by feeding atmos. O2 and/or O2 donors. Microbial activity may be maintained by addn. of water. The types of impurity in the contamination, and the biological degradability can be assessed by taking samples and mixing with unripened compost in a closed system. With a contaminated soil, the unripened compost can be applied to the soil surface, opt. as a slurry, followed by watering. Before appln. of the compost, the soil may be loosened to some depth. Atmos. O2 for maintenance of the microorganisms can be supplied through drainage or mole pipes.    ADVANTAGE -   Wastage of the compost by burning or dumping is avoided.
Recovery of ethane from natural gas is effected by (a) withdrawing overhead vapour from a demethaniser, (b) splitting the vapour into two streams, (c) compressing the 1st stream to a pressure above that in the demethaniser, (d) cooling the 1st stream by heat exchange with the 2nd stream, thereby condensing at least part of the 1st stream, (e) equalising the pressure of the 1st stream to that in the demethaniser and (f) recycling the 1st stream to the demethaniser as reflux.    ADVANTAGE -   Use of a liq. reflux stream (rather than vapour) increases the operational efficiency of the demethaniser and enhances ethane recovery. The size of the reflux equipment can be reduced compared with known processes (cf. US 4318723, 4350511 and 4687499) or the amt. of liq. reflux can be increased.
A semipermeable membrane comprises a thin layer of a bisphenol polycarbonate, polyester or polyester carbonate. At least 5 mole% of the bisphenol residues in the polymer backbone are tetrafluorobispherol F residues.    The polymer has the formula (I) where R is -CO, -S-, -SO2, -O- or 1-25C divalent hydrocarbon or halocarbon; each X is H, halogen as 1-4C alkyl, haloalkyl or alkoxy (but in some units all X's are F) R' is cyclohexylene, phenylene, naphthylene or arylalkylaryl; r=0-1, s=0-1, n is at least 20. The polymer has i.v. 0.25-1.0 dl/g.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membrane is used in separating gases. It has a separation factor for O2/N2 at 25C of at least 3.5, a reduced flux for oxygen of at least 2.3x10-8 c.c/sq.cm secs cm.Hg and a reduced flux for CO2 of at least 15.7x10-8. A feed gas mixt. is fed to one side of the membrane under pressure. Streams enriched on different gases are recovered from the two sides of the membrane.
Prodn. of dry propane for use in low-temp. dewaxing operations is effected by fractionating wet propane from the deasphalted oil recovery unit of a propane deasphalter. The wet propane has a water content of up to 2000 ppm (molar), a pressure above that in the fractionator, and a temp. of 100-140 deg. The entire heat required to operate the fractionator is supplied by part of the hot wet propane from the deasphalter. The dry propane is recovered as a prodn. stream directly from the fractionator.    More specifically, the wet propane may be in vapour or liquefied form. The fractionator is operated isothermally under conditions controlled by manipulating the overhead/feed, bottoms/feed or overhead/bottoms ratio.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The dry propane is useful for washing wax filter cakes in propane dewaxing operations. Propane drying is achieved without additional energy consumption.
Appts. for prepg. composts includes, a separator for sepg. the wet solids from a liq., a compressor or blower for forcing circulating drying air at a high pressure through the wet resistant solids. A low pressure side stream of this air is firstly cooled by passing it through a cross flow air-to-air recuperator, then dried by passing it through a heat pump. The existing airstream is then rewarmed firstly in the recuperator then the chamber before being returned to the container containing the wet solids.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. and method for providing composted material from human and animal wastes. The compost has a low water content and is active at an economical cost, environmental pollution is also low.
The machine housing has a container for gypsum on its upper part with a discharge hole sited directly over the zone in which the material being processed is held in suspension.
Alkalophilic, methanogenic Methanosarcina alcaliphilum bacteria are claimed which have an optimum growth pH of 8.1-8.7. The M. alcaliphilum (NY-728) FERM BP-2309 strain is specifically claimed.    Also claimed is a methane fermentation method by culturing methanogenic bacteria in a medium contg. substrates of low assimilation rate, the characteristic features being that (i) the bacteria can assimilate at least two different substrates at different rates and (ii) the culture is in presence of both low assimilation rate substrates and substrates of high assimilation rate. The bacteria used are pref. those of the genus Methanosarcina, esp. the above novel M. alcaliphilum bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The methane fermentation can be a process for treating solid waste or waste water. The novel bacteria are resistant to low temps. and they allow bio-methanation at an alkaline pH and at low temp., allowing bacteria concn. to be increased within a very short time so that relatively small reactors can be used. In addn., to being alkalophilic, these novel bacteria can use substrates other than H2 and CO2.
Through an aperture in the roof of a tunnel reactor (1), liq. manure from pigs and/or cattle is fed onto a mass of porous carbonaceous material, which for starting up stages may be sawdust. Over 1-2 days the mass of material is pushed by a mobile plate (3) through a drainage stage (5) with a perforated floor (4), followed by a composting stage (6) during which the material is intensely aerated. After two weeks the treated material emerges for transport to an open-air composting site for storage over a further two weeks or so. Part of the finally treated compost can then be returned to substitute for the sawdust etc. used during starting. The pusher plate is returned to its initial position.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In avoiding the financially impractical mechanical removal of the 94% liq. content in pig manure and 90% in the cattle variety. The treatment is effected with min. environmental unpleasantness.
Organic waste from households, restaurants and stables can be converted to humus with the help of red worms in a prodn. cell which is filled with feedstock and has bars used as worm feeding mangers. The latter are arrow-shaped and shave water distributors for the worms. Temp. and moisture sensors are fitted to the hollow base of the bars which also help the air circulation. Neon lamps form a light barrier for the worms. A sump regenerates the outflow from the cell for recirculation by a pump. Holes in the ceiling are used to charge the organic waste.    ADVANTAGE -   This creates optimum living conditions for the red worms.
A decomposing materials for chemical toilets contains peat, bark compost, leaf compost, and materials causing rotting.    The peat and compost are finely divided and used as an aq. suspension, opt. contg. a suspending agent. A compsn. which decomposes, deodourises and neturalises smells, containsa (a) an agent which neutralises smells and contains an Fe(II) salt, a Mg salt, and an organic acid, esp. a reducing acid, and partic. citric acid, (b) a deodoriser contg. 2.5-25% NaOC1 as an aq. soln. pH 1013, and (c) a decomposing material contg. peat, bark and leaf compost, and rotting agents. Component (a) may also contain perfume, an emulsifier, and a due, and may be an aq. soln..    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The compsn. is harmless in sewage treatment plants, and can be composted. The faeces are absorbed and decomposed by humus material, avoiding the unpleasant smell of ammonia. The toilets can be used in aircraft, on boats, or when camping.
A substance is supplied to a continuously operating composter which is fed intermittently with peat, dung, straw, turf or other substances to be decomposed aerobically. The decomposed material is typically removed from the composter after a few days' treatment, and transferred to storage and/or a further combustion pile. The feed occurs for at least part of its distance upwardly through a channel to which sufficiently dry substance adheres by friction while sludge flows backwards. The volume of a single feed unit is less than one quarter of the volume of the entire feed channel.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The appts. is used to aerobically treat material such as dung from a cattle farm, or waste from housing, greenhouses, market gardens or fur farms. The feed ensures that a substance which is too wet is not fed into the composter chamber.
Conversion of biomass into usable energy and activated carbon comprises (a) feeding unpreconditioned biomass to a fluidised bed gasifier; (b) feeding fluidising air to the fluidised bed gasifier, to obtain an equivalence ratio between 3:1 and 5:3; (c) gasifying the biomass, producing combustible gas and particulates contg. activated carbon; (d) removing the bulk of the particulates from the combustible gas using several solids removal cyclones; (e) combining and burning the combustible gas with combustion air, the combustion being carried out in two stages, such that the combustion temp. is at least 1800 deg.F, for at least 1.0 second of residence time, whereby the nitrogen oxide content of the resulting gas is no greater than 190 ng/J of energy generated by the combustion; and (f) producing steam from the heat generated by the combustion.    ADVANTAGE -   The process can convert a wide range of biomass fuels including difficult fuels such as cotton gin trash, with the added benefit of reducing solid waste, whilst the prodn. of activated carbon in the process is a surprising result.
Prepn. of methane contg. fuel gas comprises arranging more than 2 catalyst beds with different concn. of NiO in axial direction of reactor tube, and contacting methanol with catalyst beds while maintaining temp. of beds at less than 500 deg.C. Catalyst comprises oxide(s) from alkali(earth) metal and rare earth elements (1-20wt.%), NiO (5-70wt.%) and inert component (10-90wt.%).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Method controls temp. of catalyst beds to less than 500 deg.C, and produces fuel gas with stable life of catalyst.    In an example, a catalyst A is cylinders (3mm x 3mm) comprising NiO-La2O3 (wt. ratio 80:20) and silica and contg. 30wt.% of NiO. A catalyst B is cylinders comprising NiO-La2O3 and silica and contg. 50wt.% of NiO. To SUS reactor (ID 25.4mm, height 3000mm) were charged inert balls (20cm), A (2m) and B (80cm) from inlet of reactor, and catalysts were reduced with 3% H2 in N2 at 550 deg.C for 10 hrs. Methanol (1 mol ratio) and water (0.5 mol ratio) were reacted at 280 deg.C at 25 Kg/cm2 at LHSV 1 hr(-1) w.r.t. methanol. Conversion of methanol was 100%, and compsn. of obtd. gas CH4 (73.6 mol.%), CO2 (25 mol.%), and H2 (1.4 mol.%).
A charcoal making installation has two furnaces without floors of which one carbonises wood and the other dries wet wood, a gas incinerator connected to the carbonisation furnace and in turn connected by a gas injector to an extractor, a scrubber downstream of the extractor, and a duct conveying hot gas from the incinerator to the dryer with a cool gas injector regulating the temp. of the dryer. A method of making charcoal is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The amt. of hot gas used to dry wood can be varied easily.
A readily assembled or dismantled container for composting material has main uprights at the corners and an intermediate point. The feet of the uprights are connected by a continuous strip and the heels by a similar strip. These uprights, providing mechanical stiffness, are of metal with protective coating, while the spaced horizontal slats enclosing the contents are of plastic or wood. The hollow feet of the upright may engage studs formed on the longitudinal feet and heat strips. The inclined slats fit into corresp. sheaths.    ADVANTAGE -   Structure is simple, cheep and long-lasting.
New catalysts comprises a mixt. of 10-90mole% Ru and 10-90mole% RuOx (x is more than O but not more than 2) dispersed on a semiconducting oxide support comprising TiO2,ZrO2,HfO2, ThO2,N62O5,La2O3,In2O3,SrTiO3,BaTiO3,CaTiO3,LuCrO4,Ac2O3,ZnO, Cu2O,NiO,Bi2O3 or Pb3O4 or on an Al2O3 or zeolite support.    The support is pref. TiO2 in anatase and/or rutile form. The catalysts contains 1-15 (esp. 2.5-7.5) wt.% of a mixt. of 15-35mole% Ru and 65-85mole% RuOx. The catalysts are prepd. by impregnating the support with RuU3, hydrolysing the RuU3 with KOH, drying, calcining, and partially reducing the resulting RuO2 with H2/Ar.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalysts based on semiconducting oxides are useful for photochemical conversion of CO2/H2 mixts. to CH4 (sabatier reaction). They are active at low temps. and pressures, e.g. 25-90 deg.C and 1 atmos., and give more than 99% selectivity for CH4 formation. The catalysts based on Al2O3 or zeolite are useful for dark methanation.
Waste water contg. organic substances are fed in to methane fermenting equipment comprising an acid fermenter where nonwoven fabric with opening size of 2-9mm and having a specific graviity higher than water, on which bacteria are supported, is packed and a methane fermenter where nonwoven fabric with opening size of 0.6-3mm and having specific gravity higher than water, on which bacteria are supported, is packed.    The nonwoven fabric pref. comprises vinylidene chloride resin, nylon resin or vinylchloride resin.    ADVANTAGE -   Methane fermentation is effectively caried out at high BOD load using an extremely short residence time.
New solid fuel of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is prepd. by dispersing LPG based on butane and propane in sodium salt of fatty acid and solidifying with resins as solid-reinforcing solidification-promoting agent. Pref. sodium salt of fatty acid is e.g. sodium stearate. Reinforcing promoting agent is rosin, and glycerol esters.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Fuel generates gas uniformly, stably, and durable form its surface layer, regardless of posture of user. It eliminates problems related to liq. form e.g. flowing of liq. into nozzles or complexity of gasifying device. It pref. requires less heating and cooling. Without solvent used, it may be charged into plastic containers.
This is a low-temp. conversion plant for obtaining solid, liquid and gaseous fuels from organic materials such as various sludges and slurries from sewage treatment installations or the organic constituents of household and industrial refuse. The material to be processed is heated in a conversion furnace which includes a continuous conveyor belt with a gastight feed for the material and arrangements for discharging the different products. A number of variants are claimed for the furnace construction.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   This is a practical plant for a process already developed on an experimental scale. It is economical to operate. The products are carbon, oil (for use as a fuel or as a raw material for the chemical industry), and gases which are utilised in the plant.
This is a method for treating waste materials by heating, and is particularly intended for converting organic materials into coal and liquefiable gaseous products for use as fuels. The material is heated to a conversion temp. of 200-600 deg.C with air excluded. It is treated in batches, each batch being treated in part-processes. There are a number of variants, both of the process and of the equipment.    ADVANTAGE -   Treatment takes place simultaneously in separate chambers in which each part-process is subject to its own parameters (temp., pressure, etc.), resulting in time-saving and improved economy.
This is a method for measuring the concn. of a foreign gas in a gas mixt. in partic. the CH4 conc. in air. An optical gas-sensor arrangement is used, and is connected to an electronic evaluation device by a light-wave lead.    In this gas-sensor arrangement, a light ray is divided into two rays. One of these goes through the gas mixt. and the other through a reference gas, pref. air. The two rays are brought together again, and a ray characteristic representing the value of the foreign-gas conc. is measured. Claims include the use of an interference grid and moire pattern, and equipment for the measurements.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is partic. suitable for the monitoring of explosive gases, such as CH4, in mining, offshore operations, and the chemical industry. It modifies an existing method and optical gas-sensor arrangement so that the value of the gas concentration itself (and not that of its changes) is obtd.
Coal is biochemically converted to combustible hydrocarbon gases by (a) contacting the finely divided coal with hot aq. alkali soln. at 150-B_ deg.C to produce an aq. mixt of low mol. wt. organics, (b) feeling the soln or mixt. a subterranean cavity, (c) inoculating the soln. or mixt. with a methanogenic microorganism culture and maintaining this at pH 6.5-8.5 and at 10-60 deg.C, and (d) allowing the microorganisms to grow the produce methane, and recovering combustible hydrocarbon gases.    ADVANTAGE -   The method is more economically viable than prior at methods for conversion of biomass is commercially significant quantities.
In the land farm installation there is at least one treatment bay for receiving wastes. It is surrounded by a dike and has a sloping floor. It has a topmost soil layer of sand, clay and slit in the proportions 6:3:1; a middle layer of permeable sandy soil, and a bottom layer which is impermeable. Each layer has a gradient, and drainage systems remove the surface liquid and liquid from the permeable sandy soil to a treatment plant.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used in areas where soil is permeable and the water table is near the surface. Waste leached out by surface water are removed by the treatment plant, and cannot reach the groundwater.
Combustion process comprises: (i) combusting solid carbonaceous material from coal, lignite, peat, oil shale, tar sands, gilsonite and biomass in presence of KCl, NaCl, LiCl, KBr, LiBr or NaBr, and in absence of recycled flue gases; and (ii) emitting NO and NO2 during combustion while simultaneously converting a substantial amt. of the NOx to N2 during combustion.    Pref. SO2 and SO3 emitted during combustion are simultaneously converted to sulphate-contg. cpds.    ADVANTAGE -   SOx and NOx are effectively removed, giving good pollution control, safety and cleanliness, and coal burning is improved which increases economy.
Horizontal cylindrical body (1) has loading/unloading apertures (2,3), pipe (4) to take off bio-gas, and attachment for breaking down the skins and mass being fermented, made as longitudinal vertical screens (5) fixed to upper internal part of body to divide it into sections joined together. Mixing device is made as elongated elements that reach to bottom of body. Each screen is above an element forming slits in same plane. Along each bottom end is regulating strip that can be adjusted in vertical plane.    Screens (5) are initially united with vertical strips and a sealed joint produced. For anaerobic fermentation an interceptor for flow of bio-gas is linked through pipes with end and central sections. Gas-pressure is equal in the sections. Forced removal of gas through pipe (4) creates reduced pressure leading to more intensive fermentation and reduced -: foam-formation. Mass enters via hole (2), interceptor is changed over and seals central section, while biogas enters at sides, creating pressure difference, to distribute mass so that incrustation is broken are discharged.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture for anaerobic digestion of organic wastes (manure, effluents from animal-farms, vegetable wastes, etc.) for prodn. of high-quality organic fertilisers and bio-gas. Reactor construction is simplified and labour requirements during its mfr. are reduced. Bul.45/7.12.88
The fermentation unit consists of a container (1) which is filled with the initial manure and then has a spiral cylindrical heat exchanger (2) screwed into it. The spiral is heated either with hot water or by heat extracted from manure in a stack (10), and the container is covered with a lid (11) which has an outlet (12) for bio-gas. After fermentation has been completed, the heat exchanger is removed by unscrewing it, and, to assist the fitting and removal of the spiral, the lower coil (6) is located in a conical line, with the pipe (7) for removing the heat-carrying agent located along its central axis.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agricultural engineering. Wider range of technical applications. Bul.44/30.11.88
Prepn. of branched hydrocarbon(s) (I) comprises reaction of isobutane (II) with olefin(s) (III) in presence of adamantyl sulphate(s) (IV) and strong acid(s) (V).    (IV), esp. (IVa) is used as one catalyst component. R1 and R2 are independently 1-10C alkyl and n is 1 to 12. (V) are, e.g., HF, H2SO4, HSO3F, CF3SO3H etc. Molar ratio of (II)/(III) is 3-15, pref. 7-10. Amt. of (V) w.r.t. reaction mixt. is 40-60 vol.% (pref. 45-55 vol.%), and amt. of (IV)/(V) is 10 power -5 -10 power -1 (pref. 10 power -4 -10 power -2)mol/l. Surfactant(s) (e.g. alkylsulphonic acid, alkylamine etc.) may be added to the reaction mixt. Reaction is carried out at 5-20 (pref. 7-13) deg.C under sufficient pressure to maintain the reaction system liq.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is used to improve octane value of gasoline. (I) of octane value above 95 is prepd. from (II) and (III) by using cheap catalyst in high yield (above 80%).
In the prodn. of enriched gas by adsorbing impurity from a raw gas, contg. useful component and a little impurity, by PSA method, improvement is that the enriched gas is used for a compressing gas, but in non-use time for the compressing, similar flow vol. of the enriched gas to the vol. of the compressing gas, is recycled to the raw gas line or is used for compressing of the other column, to flow the gas vol. of the enriched gas constantly.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is used for prodn. of CH4-enriched gas by adsorption and removal of CO2 gas. The method brings easy control to produce the final product gas by adding LP-gas, because the flow vol. of the enriched gas is constant.
(i) 1 Pt. wt. material e.g. fruit pits, nut shells etc. are crushed to 1-3 mm. size and treated with 0.25-4 pts. aq. ZnCl2 soln., (ii) after evapn. of H2O the material is carbonised in an inert atmos. at 400-700 deg.C and (iii) ZnCl2 removed e.g. by HCl washing, (iv) dry activated prod. is then recovered. Pref. material in (i) is peach stones and treatment is for 3-20 hrs. at 50-200 deg.C. Prod. obtd. partic. is microporous with a surface area above 1800 sq.m/g. and bulk density above 0.35 g/cc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Prod. is used as an adsorber for natural gas partic. CH4 from automobile internal combustion engines and for gasoline vapour.
Periodical turning-over and transfer of a flat-based stack of mixed plant material, needed to hasten composting, is effected by a roller suspended from lifting mechanism on either side of the stack. The roller has an upright flat control plate (1) from which project gripper teeth (2) by which material is lifted through a fixed housing (6) whose internal tearing teeth mesh with the gripper teeth to break up twigs and other woody pieces while advancing the material to a fresh base. After each transit across the stack, the device is advanced 10-20cm. Tearing teeth may be mounted on external rollers.    ADVANTAGE -   Turning over is combined with redn. of undesirably large components.
Process for converting synthesis gas into Fischer-Tropsch synthesis prods. uses a catalyst contg. a crystalline compsn. comprising: Si; O; Fe, Ni or Co; and a rare earth from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixts.; the crystalline compsn. being free of Al, B and Ga, and being characterised by an X-ray powder diffraction pattern having a line of at least strong intensity at an inter planar spacing less than ca. 5 Angstroms and lines of at least medium intensity at spacings of 3.64, 3.44, 3.30 and 3.14 Angstroms.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful in prodn. of methane, ethane and ethylene, or aromatic cpds. from synthesis gas comprising H2 and CO in molar ratio 2.0-3.0:1. The rare earth component of the catalyst is not removable by cation exchange in aq. medium, and the catalyst has uniform pore size. Stability at elevated temps. is improved, esp. in presence of water vapour.
Plant or animal refuse is aerobically rotted into compost in a drum formed of thick parallel wooden planks held by peripheral metal hoops and with end plates formed of radial strips. The drum is mounted on a frame and rotated by a drive-chain round one end, at low speeds pf 0.1-0.2 r.p.m. The drum contents are aerated from between the plank edges or by a separate impeller. Material may enter or leave the drum via a sieve insent. Sewage sludge may be thickened by adding 40-50% of organic addns. pref. producing a C;N ratio of 15-30:1 and pH value of 6.5-7.5. Current supply for an electric drive motormay derive from solar cells.    ADVANTAGE -   Effective composting is achieved with min. power input.
Faster methane reduction from reduction or from vegetable materials is ensured with the vessel provided with an anode below the cathode made as meshes bounding two zones along the height. The lower zone is used for acid fermentation of the substrate, while the methane formation is in the other zone. The vessel wall has axial pumps handling the substrate between the zones and which are mounted with their longitudinal axes tangent to the wall.    ADVANTAGE -   The unit ensures optimal conditions for fermentation and full control of two stages is achieved.
In a synthetic method of 2-C hydrocarbons consisting mainly of ethane and ethylene by reaction of methane and molecular oxygen at a high temp. in the presence of catalyst the improvement comprises using a catalyst of composite oxides of an alkaline earth metal oxide(s) and a rare earth oxide(s).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Provides a high yield synthetic method with a high selection rate of hdyrocarbons such as ethane and ethylene by oxidn. dehydration dimerisation of methane at a low temp. of about 600 deg.C in the presence of a cheaper catalyst with high activity.    In an example, into two fixed bed reactors at 650 and 750 deg.C filled with 0.5g of a catalyst consisting of 90 mol.% CaO and 10 mol.% Y2O3, is passed a mixed gas of methane, oxygen and helium with mol. ratios of 15:7.5:77.5 at a rate of 40 ml.min. and, after water being trapped in an ice bath, the outlet gas is gas chromatographed with a conversion rate of methane of 31.9 and 35.0 mol.% at 650 and 750 deg.C and a total selection rate of ethane ethylene, propane and propylene of 22.9 and 37.0 C-mol.% at 650 and 750 deg.C..
The device comprises a fermentation tank to ferment garbage to be compost and a crusher to crush the garbag to feed it to the fermentation tank.    USE -   Garbage can be processed easily in a short time.
For the prepn., a fermentation waste or a sludge formed by a biological treatment of a waste is blended with wollastonite and concd. H2SO4, granulated and effective microorganisms which have been incubated separately are added to the medium and the medium is further fermented to obtain an organic fertiliser and feed.    The fermentation waste is alcohol distillation waste, or waste in fermentation of amino acids and other nucleic acid-related susbtances. The sludge formed by biological treatment of a waste may be a sludge to be formed in activated sludge method or methane fermentation method. The effective microorganisms are mould or yeast.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A fermentation waste having a high water content can be fermented in a short period of time to form organic fertiliser and feed.
Organic waste is decomposed by crushing in an enclosed container and agitating in a condition to be in contact with high pressure steam. The liq. formed is sprayed and dried to form a powder of feed or of compost.    ADVANTAGE -   Organic substances can be utilised effectively.
Mixt. of three gases is enriched in one component by pressure saving adsorption, by providing three lines each with an adsorber for that component and an adsorber for a second component; and implementing different phases in each line of the same cycle including the steps of cocurrent isobaric adsorption in both adsorbers, separate countercurrent desorption in both adsorbers, and recompression of each adsorber with gas from an equiv. adsorber in another line.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For obtaining oxygen, carbon monoxide, or methane (all claimed). A high yield is obtd. with low investment and energy costs.
In anaerobic fermentation of aq. dispersions and solns. contg. ammonia and biologically degradable substances, after the substrates have been broken down to carboxylic acids at 0-65 deg.C, the pH rises to above 7 by self-alkalisation of the reaction medium; N present as NH4 salts or in organic combination is converted to volatile NH3 and is sepd. physically, enabling the N-loaded substrate to be fermented without dilution.    Pref. part of the sludge self-alkalised in the microbiological fermentation is removed from circulation, and recycled to the reactor after reducing the NH3 content to 0.1-8.0 g/l (1-4 g./l); opt., before sepn. of the NH3 and recycling, the self-alkalised sediment is withdrawn from circulation and mixed with fresh substrate, in ratio to give a mixt. with alkaline reaction. Self-alkalisation by microbial fermentation is rendered possible by raising the pH value of the fresh substrate to a neutral reaction, by addn. of alkali(ne earth) bases. To avoid contamination of the environment, NH3 is sepd. from the self-alkalised sludge after removal from the reaction system, pref. by stripping with an inert gas or steam, or by redn. of the pressure until the NH3 volatilises. In sepg. NH3 by heating, the NH3-rich part of the reaction system is heated by means of the NH3-lean part of the system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Undiluted wastes can be converted to biogas and valuable fertiliser, with sepn. of the NH3. Agricultural wastes, e.g. liq. manure, wastes from the food industry, e.g. slaughterhouse wastes, and wastes from the chemical industry, can be treated.
Organic waste and/or sewage sludge is composted, together with desirable additives, during prolonged descent (e.g., 7-14 days) in an upright drum. Incoming solids are uniformly distributed across the drum cross-section by rotating arms carrying overlapping blades with the distributor vertically mobile on its central axis. Air is blown through the drum base, and used air withdrawn from the drum head. The amt. of air injected is controlled automatically in dependence on CO2 content measured near the top of the rotting bed, and which is a measure of biological activity in the bed.    ADVANTAGE -   Optimum composting conditions are automatically achieved.
Aquatic plant is cultivated in a digested soln. after methane fermentation. A soln. contg. organic acids is sepd. from the cultivated plant after acid fermentation of the cultivated plant. The sepd. soln. is mixed with organic wastes to be methane fermented to control the C/N ratio of the organic wates and components other than the sepd. soln. of the plant are treated separately.    Specifically by cultivating an aquatic plant in the digested soln. CO2 in air is fixed and N is absorbed in the aquatic plant. The plant is ground to a size for acid fermentation. Organic substances consisting of hydrocarbons in the ground plant are decomposed to organic acids in acid fermentation. The plant is sepd. to the soln. contg. organic acids and other components by a press dehydrator. The digested soln. after cultivation is treated in a denitrifying appts.    ADVANTAGE -   Amt. of gas generated in methane fermentation is increased. Running cost is reduced.
Bacteria belonging to Mycobacterium genus, which are capable of decomposing dimethylformamide, and/or the substance obtd. by treating the bacteria, are contacted with a soln. contg. dimethylformamide to remove dimethylformamide in the soln.    Mycobacterium methanolica is pref. used. The bacteria are aerobically incubated in the soln. at 5-43 deg.C, e.g. at 10-40 deg.C at pH 5-9, e.g. 6-8 in the dissolved oxygen concn. of 0.5-20 ppm. Concn. of dissolved oxygen is kept constant by controlling flow rate of gas introduced, stirring, using O2 gas or a mixed gas of O2 and air or increasing the pressure in an incubating tank. The soln. contg. dimethylformamide in the concn. of under 3 wt.%, e.g. under 2 wt.% is pref. treated. The soln. is treated by incubating the bacteria in the soln. as the bacteria medium, adding the bacteria to the soln., contacting the soln. with the activated sludge contg. the bacteria, incubating soln. and ground bacteria or flowing the soln. through a column in which substances fixing the bacteria are packed.    ADVANTAGE -   Dimethylformamide, which are stable and hard to decompose, are effectively decomposed.
Three-phase gas lift loop reactor includes draft tube with more than one startup opening. Also claimed is a gas lift loop reactor with a total area of startup openings with 0.001 to 20% of the smaller area A and area B, where area A is a cross-sectional area of the draft tube and area B is a cross-sectional area of the reactor tube minus the cross-sectional area of the draft tube. A gas lift loop reactor where the total area of startup openings is 0.1 to 10% of the smaller of area A or area B. Gas lift loop reactor where each startup opening has a substantially circular form.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Draft tube for use in three-phase gas lift loop reactor and process in which such a draft tube is used. To reduce significantly the hysteresis effects in gas lift reactor with draft tube by substantial reduction of energy necessary to obtain the state of suspension.
In thermal prodn. of raw materials, esp. a fuel gas with low diluent content from inferior wet fuels, e.g. lignite, peat, sewage sludge and biomass, the fuel is dried at above atmos. pres-sure, pref. 25-40 bar, and treated in a reactor of the type used for watergas prodn. Drying is in at least 2 fluidisation stages, at increasing temp. and/or pressure stages, and the pressure in the final stage, esp. in the concluding treatment in a reactor at the final stage of the drier, is higher than in the preceding stages, and esp. in the later reactor.    ADVANTAGE -   The fuel gas has a smaller content of non-combust-ibles, giving a higher heating value.
The device comprises a heating furnace, an indirect heating body facing the inner wall of the heating furnace, with a distance between them, and a sealed container which is inserted on the inner side of the indirect heating body.    USE -   Thermal decomposition of wood and plant can be carried out uniformly.
Rapid prodn. of manure by fermentation and curing or organic wastes with saccharolytic, proteolytic, cellulolytic and lignolytic bacteria. The intermediate product is circulated to the starting material to adjust the water content and pH. Inorganic or organic material is added. An air exhauster contains deodorant bacteria.    Organic wastes are effectively decomposed with saccharolytic, proteolytic, cellulolytic and lignolytic bacteria at 40-90 deg.C with sufficient aeration and stirring together with the adjustment of water content and pH. Malodour is eliminated by passing the exhaust through an air exhauster packed with deodorant bacteria. The fermentation process requires 1-3 days.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Rapid utilisation of organic waste and prodn. of manure without malodour.
Liq. manure is hydrolysed in a reactor from which unwanted gases, esp. CO2 and H2S are removed before sepn. of the solid fraction and delivery of the liq. to a reactor bed which immobilises the active bacteria. Anaerobic action produces methane for fuel usage, with the finer solid fraction then removed, and the liq. going to intermediate storage. The reactor bed holds open pored carrier material, esp. sintered glass rings with high specific surface. The bed may be at least partly surrounded by the hydrolyser which is internally heated and externally insulated.    The reactor bed elements may be strung on wires disposed in conical form, with a stack of such cones superimposed in the reactor bed.    ADVANTAGE -   The treated fertiliser, with evil-smelling and acidic components removed, can be supplied to crops during growing season. Biogas is of high quality.
Liq. prods. obtd. from low temp. carbonisation (LTC) of plastic waste, hdyrocarbon contg. material, contaminated soils, biomass, waste sludges as well as LTC tar and coke are worked up by (A) subjecting the prods. to a sump/gas phase hydrogenation under an H2 press of 20-325 bar at 250-500 deg. C, a gas:oil ratio 100-3,000 m3/t (0 deg. C, atm. press) using 0.5-5 wt. % of (B) as disposable catalyst, disposable catalyst support and/or additive internally or externally obtd. LTC coke or lignite coke opt. impregnated with catalytically active metals or their salts.    The LTC prods. are pref. obtd. from a process carried out in a (in)directly heated drum or from a LTC step in which acid gases formed are bound by basic addives.    ADVANTAGE -   Harmful substances are converted into valuable, useful, harmless hydrocarbon products.
An external pump delivers liq. pig-farm manure or similar material in tangential rotary flow into a vertical reactor tower for producing biogas (methane). Insoluble material charged with microorganisms is held in suspension in the lower area of the tower, while liq. with low solid content moves to the tower head. The more rapidly decomposing surface material is removed at intervals e.g. of 2.5-10 days, while the period for the high solids mixt. is 20-40 days. Temp. is maintained at 24-40 (33-35) deg./C, at pH at 7.0-8.5.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas output per ton of treated material is increased, with redn. of power for mixing, which only proceeds fully near reactor base.
Wood is pyrolysed by progressively heating it to 185 deg.C in a current of gas in a compartment of a vessel, to dry it and extract acetic acid, heating it to 285 deg.C in a second current of gas in a second compartment of the vessel to pyrolyse it, recycling some of the gas from the first compartment to both compartments and remvoing the remainder, and cooling the pyrolised wood in a tank of water. A wood pyrolyser is also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   Pyrolyser is simple, automatic, and pollution-free.
Method for composting manures obtd. by littered animal husbandry comprises aerobic fermentation by forming layers of (a) a hygroscopic basic layer, and (b) a mixt. of 86-92 wt% manure and vegetable waste with 3-4 wt% Ca(OH)2 and 5-10 wt% activating agent; setting moisture content and pH; resting while chemical processes raise the temp. to 70-75 deg C; fermenting until the temp. is reduced to ca 50 deg C; and aerating; and maintaining constant moisture and suitable aeration conditions to give complete decomposition after 13-14 days.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Gives rapid decomposition to form a soil fertiliser, c.f. 12 months or more by conventional anaerobic composting methods.
The equipment includes a loading bunker (1) and a horizontal worm screw press (2) for extruding cores (3). The latter are transported by means of endless belt (8) to a drier (9).    The press (2) is mounted on a base (6) and can be turned around the bunker's (1) axis by a mechanism with arm (7). A thrust beaming (12), which is located on a support (11) along the bunker's (1) axis, is connected with the base (6). The latter has a fixing seat in the arm (7) provided with a slot for a push roller (13). This is connected with crank (14) of fly-wheel (15) driven by electrical motor (17).    The base (6) of the press (2) oscillates in horizontal plane around the vertical axis of the bunker (1), the head (22) of the sleeve (18) moves cyclically across the conveyor belt (8) and draws with it the matrix (23). The latter lays on the belt (8) the descending cores in a wide, then layer in a complex zig-zag pattern. This improves thermal treatment and ensures high quality of the product. The provision of rotating press reduces moisture concn. of product from 25-28% to 20-22% in compension with conventional granulator with the same drying conditions. Amt. of undersize granules is reduced from 25 to 12-15%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In mfr. of strong activated charcoal granules from modified wood. Bul.02/15.1.89
Method comprises adjusting the porosity to 30-40% and water content to 60-85% and feeding 600-800 pts. vol. air to one pt. of the material with aerobes.    USE -   For sewage treating plants. (J57011895-A)
Mixt. comprises, as essential components, at least one of n-butane, cyclobutane, n-pentane, isopentane or cyclopentane and monochloro tetrafluoroethane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The actuating medium mixt. is useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with mono-chloro tetrafluoroethane alone conventionally used as refrigerant, the mixed medium is superior in the efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.    In an example, a refrigeration cycle system was operated using refrigerant composed of 1-chloro-1,2,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R124) and n-butane mixed in mole ratio of 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 50/50, 10/90 or 0/100 in the operation condition of: evaporation temp.= 0 deg C, condensation temp. = 60 deg C and supercooling rate = 0 deg C.
Actuating medium mixt. (refrigerant) comprisess n-butane and dichlorotrifluoroethane. Mole ratio of n-butane to dichlorotrifluoroethane is pref. 1:99-50:50.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump ec. Compared with dichlorotrifluoroethane alone conventionally used as refrigerant, mixed medium has improved efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.    In an example. refrigeration cycle system was operated using refrigerant comprising n-butane and 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (R123) mixed in mole ratio of 0/100, 1/99, 20/80, 30/70, 49/51 or 50/50 in operation condition of: evapn. temp. of 0 deq. C, condens. temp. of 60 deq. C and supercooling rate of 0 deq. C. Performance coefft. and refrigeration capacity (kcal/m3) obtd. by refrigerant mixts. were respectively: 3.63/70; 3.63/70; 3.64/70; 3.65/75; 3.65/80; 3.63/95 and 3.63/95.
Mixt. comprises, as essential components, ethane, dichlorodifluoromethane and 1,1-di-fluoroethane.    Mole ratio of ethane to the mixt. of dichloro difluoromethane and 1,1-difluoroethane is pref. 1:99-40:60. Mixing wt. ratio of dichloro dilfluoromethane to 1,1-difluoro-ethane is pref. 73.8:26.2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The mxit. is useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with the mixt. of dichloro difluoromethane and 1,1-difluoroethene, the mixed medium is superior in the efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.
Actuating medium mixt. contains isobutane and dichlorotrifluoroethane.    Mole ratio of isobutane to dichlorotrifluoroethane is pref. 1:99-50:50.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating a refrigerator, heat pump. The mixed medium has good efficiency of the refrigeration cycle.    In an example, a refrigeration cycle was operated using a refrigerant comprising isobutane and 1,1-dichlor-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (R123) mixed in a mole ratio of 0/100, 1/99, 10/90, 20/80, 30/70, 56/44 or 60/40 at an evapn temp of 0 deg C, condensn temp of 60 deg C and supercooling rate of 0 deg C. Performance coefficient and refrigeration capacity (kcal/m3) obtd by the refrigerant mixts. were 3.63/70; 3.63/70; 3.65/75; 3.67/80; 3.68/85; 3.63/110; and 3.61/110 respectively.
Compsn. comprises (as essential components) ethane and monochloro tetrafluoroethane. Mole ratio of ethane to monochloro tetrafluoroethane is pref. 1:99-60:40.    ADVANTAGE -   Compared with mono-chlorotetrafluoroethane alone, the mixt has superior efficiency of refrigeration cycle.
Compsn. comprises (as essential components) at least one of 4-5C hydrocarbons and pentafluoroethane (R125). 4-5C hydrocarbon is pref. n-butane, isobutane, cyclobutane, n-pentane, isopentane or cyclopentane.    ADVANTAGE -   Compared with R125alone, conventionally used as a refrigerant, the mixed medium has superior efficiency of refrigeration cycle.
Actuating medium mixt. (refrigerant) comprises, 4-5C hydrocarbon(s), dichlorodifluoromethane and 1,1-difluoroethane. 4-5C hydrocarbon is pref. n-, iso- or cyclo-butane, n-, iso or cyclo-pentane. Mixing ratio of dichlorodifluoromethane to 1,1-difluoroethane is pref. 73.8:26.2 by wt. ratio, i.e. azeotropic mixt. (R500).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump, etc. Compared with only mixt. of dichlorodifluoromethane and 1,1-difluoroethane conventionally used as refrigerant, mixed medium has improved efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.
Actuating medium mixt. (refrigerant) comprises 4-5C hydrocarbon(s), monochloro-difluoromethane and monochloropentafluoroethane. 4-5C hydrocarbon is pref. n-, iso or cyclo-butane, n-, iso or cyclo-pentane. Mixing ratio of monochlorodifluoromethane to monochloro-pentafluoroethane is pref. 48.8:51.2 by wt.ratio, i.e. azeotropic mixt. (R502).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operation refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with mixt. of monochlorodifluoromethane and monochloropentafluoroethane conventionally used as refrigerant, mixed medium has improved efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.
Actuating medium mixt. (refrigerant) comprises, as essential components, at least one of 4-5C hydrocarbons and tetrafluoroethane. 4-5C hydrocarbon is pref. n-butane, isobutane, cyclobutane, n-pentane, isopentane or cyclopentane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The actuating medium mixt. is useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with tetrafluoroethane (R134 or R134a) alone conventionally used as refrigerant, the mixed medium is superior in the efficiency of refrigerationn cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.
Actuating medium mixt. (refrigerant) comprises, at least one of n- or cyclobutane, n-, iso- or cyclo-pentane and monochlorodifluoromethane (R22).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with R22 alone conventionally used as refrigerant, mixed medium has improved efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.    In an example. refrigeration cycle system was operated using refrigerant comprising R22 and n-butane mixed in mole ratio of 100/0, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 50/50, 20/80 or 0/1000 in operation condition of: evapn. temp. of 0 deq. C, condens. temp. of 60 deg. C and supercooling rate of 0 deq. C. Performance coefft. and refrigeration capacity (kcal/m3) obtd. by refrigerant mixts. were respectively: 3.11/630; 3.15/530; 3.20/440; 3.29/375; 3.49/290; 3/61/205; and 3.40/160.
Mixt. comprises, as essential components, ethane and dichlorodifluoromethane. Mole ratio of ethane to dichlorodifluoromethane is pref. 1:99-40:60.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The mixt. is useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. Compared with single component before mixing, the mixed medium is superior in the efficiency of refrigeration cycle, i.e. efficiency of freezing-heating.    In an example a refrigeration cycle system was operated using refrigerant composed of ethane and dichloro difluoromethane mixed in mole ratio of 0/100, 1/99, 10/90, 20/80, 30/70, 31/69 or 40/60 in the operation condition of: evaporation temp. = 0 deq. C, condensation temp. = 60 deq. C and supercooling rate = 0 deq. C.
Actuating medium mixt. contains at least one of 4-5C hydrocarbons and dichlorodifluoromethane.    4-5C hydrocarbon is pref. n-butane, isobutane, cyclobutane, n-pentane, isopentane or cyclopentane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating regriqerator, heat pump etc. The medium has qood efficiency of refrigeration cycle.    In an example. a refrigeration cycle system was operated using a refrigerant comprising R12 and n-butane mixed in a ratio of 100/0. 90/10, 80/20. 70/30, 50/50, 20/80 or 0/100 at an evapn. temp. of 0 deq. C condensn. temp. of 60 deq. C and supercooling rate of 0 deq. C. The performance coefficient and refrigeration capacity (kcal/m3) obtd. from the refrigerant mixts. were 3.21/390; 3.23/345; 3.27/310; 3.30/280; 3.38/235; 3.44/185 and 3.40/160 respectively.
Actuating medium mixt. comprises ethane and tetrafluoroethane.    The mole ratio of ethane to tetrafluoroethane is pref. 1:99-40:60.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for operating refrigerator, heat pump etc. The mixed medium has good efficiency of the refrigeration cycle.    In an example, a refrigeration cycle system was operated using a refrigerant comprising ethane and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane mixed in a mole ratio of 0/100, 1/99, 10/90. 20/80, 30/70, 31/69 or 40/60 at an evapn. temp. of 0 deg.C, condensn. temp. of 60 deg.C and supercooling rate of 0 deg.C. Performance coefft. and refrigeration capacity (kcal/m3) obtd. by the refrigerant mixts. were 3.04/370; 3.05/370; 3.28/445; 3.14/480; 3.05/530; 3.04/535; and 2.87/570 respectively.
New surfactants (I) are prepd by reacting nonionic surfactants (II), other than glycerol esters, with polycarboxylic acids (III) contg 3-10 C00H gps.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) are useful as detergents, foaming agents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, dispersants or complexing agents in detergent compsns, toiletries, cosmetics, textile and paper auxiliaries, agrochemical compsns and metal-working fluids, and for emulsion polymerisation. They are biodegradable and have little or no irritant effect on the skin and eyes.
A hopper at the head of an insulated cylinder delivers raw organic material to a fine chopper, forming material which is progressively composted while descending to base outlets esp. drawers. Air rises from base inlets to upper outlets. A colony of earth-worms is maintained near the cylinder foot. The material may be treated with activator such as milk powder or flour, to accelerate bacterial growth. Frusto-conical guides projecting inwards from the cylinder wall direct the forming humus into the central region. Extra heat may derive from an electrical base coil.    USE -   Household and garden waste can be formed into useful humus, even during winter months.
The process consists of cutting the tree trunk or log into segments of 5-10 cm. length before carbonisation. The transverse cuts may be complete or partial, through at least 80% of the section, after which carbonisation is carried out in usual ovens. The prod. is of uniform size, with a drastic reduction in fumes and dust, and has higher strength and fixed carbon content, allowing the level of silicon to be increased in cast iron in blast furnaces.
The device is provided with a dispersal member joined to a gas distribution pipe network, on a pressuriser mechanicam with the border wall of the dispersal member which is a membrane mfd. of elastic material and having cross or V-shaped slit on the side pointing towards the liq. or slurry.    The legs of the V-shaped slip make an angle of 70-90 deg. to each other while their length is 1-3mm from their cutting point. The membrane is a flat plate, a cover with a circular projection, or alternatively a tube.    USE -   For dissolving and mixing gases in a liq. or sludge, in aerobic formentation.
The process comprises putting an incubating vessel contg. a culture medium, in a incubating tank formed in an underground space, and fermenting the medium at a high temp. under moist conditions.    USE -   For fermenting food wastes, dirty sludges or cattle droppings.
In thermal conversion of CH4 to higher hydrocarbons in an elongated reaction zone with an axis of symmetry and comprising (a) a heating zone, and (b) a cooling zone following the heating zone and in which the effluent from the heating zone is cooled, a gaseous mixt. contg. CH4 is circulated in the heating zone in a direction parallel to the axis; the heating zone contains electric heating means, sealed from the gaseous mixt., and arranged in parallel strata, forming, in transverse projection, a bundle with triangular, square or rectangular path.    The heating means are grouped in successive transverse sections perpendicular to the axis, independent of one another and supplied with electrical energy so as to form 2 parts in the heating zone; in the 1st part, the charge can be heated to at most 1500 deg.C, and in the second part,is held at a temp. equal to the max. to which it was heated in the 1st part. A coolant fluid is fed into the cooling zone, and the higher hydrocarbon prods. are collected at the end of the reaction zone.
A gas contg. Hg is treated by (a) contacting the gas with an aq. soln. of an alkali polysulphide, (b) contacting the effluent gas with Co chloride, and (c) recovering a gas with reduced concn. of Hg and freed from H2S.    The gas pref. is N2 or natural gas. The gas is (a) treated with an aq. soln. of NaSx contg. 5-20% of S, removing Hg and forming H2S in situ, and (b) the effluent gas is contacted with a Co salt (pref. the chloride, bromide, sulphate or nitrate), esp. on SiO2, Al2O3 and/or CaSO4 (pref. as inert support, to remove the H2S.    ADVANTAGE -   Damage to Al equipment, esp. heat-exchangers, is avoided.
Fuel gas is prepd. by performing hydrothermal decomposition of organic mass such as biomass, wood chips, paper, etc. by keeping the mass at 100-350 deg.C under non-oxidative gas atmos. by geothermal heat.    The organic waste is e.g. chaff, straw, stem leaves of corn, etc. wood scrap and saw dust coproduced by the processing of wood, etc. In a geothermal power generator, the output from geothermal well is passed through a water separator to separate steam which is lead to a turbine to drive power generator from hot water which is lead to underground. A portion of the separated hot water is fed to a heat exchanger equipped in a hydrothermal reactor to effect the hydrothermal reaction of organic wastes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process utilises inexpensive geothermal heat to effect hydrothermal reaction of organic waste in the form of granules, mass or slurry.
In extract sepg. of aimed component from mixt. contg. components by using super critical fluid, the component is extd. using at least two kinds of fluids having different critical pressure and is vaporised in separator tanks successively in the order from having higher critical pressure.    USE -   For coal liquefying, cleaning semiconductor, condensing biomass, or extracting and seg. fat of animal or plant.
In a seabed having sludge on it, a gas passage is provided in the sludge, sheets are put covering the sludge with the gas passage, and the gas passage is connected with a gas collecting pipe, so gas from the sludge is used for energy.    USE -   A seabed having sludge on it can be used effectively.
A semi-permeable membrane for sepg. gases comprises a polybenzoxazole (I) of formula: Ar = aromatic gp.; R = divalent aromatic gp.; and n = 2-200.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The membrane is high in selective permeabilities for specific gases and is excellent in mechanical strength, heat resistance, chemical resistance and weather resistance. The membranes are esp. useful for sepg. hydrogen from hydrogen/methane mixt., carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide/methane mixt., and oxygen from oxygen/nitrogen mixt. partic. for concentrating oxygen gas in the air.
The smell of H2S is destroyed by the metabolic activity of two associated bacterias pref. belonging to the class of thiobacterials known as CHLOROBIUM LIMICOLA and THIOCYTIS VIOLACEA. Pref. the 2 bacteria are cultured for their growth in a liq. medium of the conventional cysteine-contg. Rose now prepn.    Pref. the bacteria are industrially produced in a fermenter in liq. medium to obtain max. growth in exponential phase. They are pref. produced separately and are freeze dried immediately after the exponential phase. They are then combined by soln. in running water.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For destroying H2S smell generated by bovine and porcine animal dejections stored in ditches. The process allows spreading of liq. manure on the dejections without the accompanying harmful effects of H2S smell.
Organic material for conversion to humus is fed through a top aperture into a container with a stacked assembly of box-like structures made of metal or of insulating material such as foamed plastic or compressed fibres; the structures engage each other by peripheral tongues and grooves. The base structure is formed with recesses covered by a perforated fixed plate and a mobile unperforated plate. In the recesses are drawers holding earth-worms which can migrate into the rotting material via the plate perforations. The stack is topped by a lid including the feed aperture, and possible a chopper unit for raw material.    ADVANTAGE -   Humus formation is independent of weather conditions, and adequate worm operation is ensured.
When a stack of scrap plant and allied material being rotted to form compost is about half-way to ripeness, the stack is transferred to a sieve . Unrotted coarse material sepd. by the sieve is taken to a chopper , whose output together with material which passed the sieve, combine to form a new stack pref. adjacent the initial stack.    ADVANTAGE -   All the initial material tends to finish composting at about the same time.
An automatic control method for biotechnical conversion processes which use continuous or partly continuous cultivation of naturally occurring, or genetically manipulated cells is hierarchical with two control levels. The upper level operates as 'control according to model' and contains a process securing system. The lower level is based upon special situation recognition algorithms, i.e. learning systems, for reliable recognising changes in the process conditions and reacting to provide optimum process control.    Pref., the model for the higher level is a structured model, pref. a state model or one which can be mathematically handled in real time. Pref. the lower level comprises as learning systems, a prognosis filter and a classifier, connected together in 'logic-and' manner.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the automatic control of biotechnical conversion processes using naturally occurring microorganisms or those genetically manipulated. For the prodn. of biomasses, recovery of prods., elimination of wastes and prodn. of energy carriers. Improved energy efficiency and stability of the process. Improved reliability and redn. in manpower reqd.
A soln. contg 0.05-10 pts. wt. aromatic copolyimide (A) or copolyamide (B) in a mixed solvent which contains 5-50 pts. wt. of organic polar solvent (C) w.r.t. 100 pts. wt. of dioxane is coated on a porous membrane of copolyimide (A) or copolyamide (B), dried, and heated. The copolyimide (A) consists of 90-70 mol% repeating units (I) and 10-30 mol% repeating units (II). The copolyamide (B) consists of 70-90 mol% of repeating unit (III) and 30-10 mol% of repeating unit (IV).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used to separate H2 gas, to dehumidify natural gas or to dehydrate aq organic cpds. The membrane has a high H2/CH4 sepn. factor of 30 and a high H2 gas permeability of over 1 x 10 power -6 cm3/cm2.sec.cm.Hg, having good resistances to heat and chemicals.
Utilisation and disposal of entire waste or sewage, combined with loamy clay soils, coloured clay, rubbish from mining and coal waste, with addn. of key components, using a claimed appts., for prodn. of a synthetic energy source (SEP) is claimed.    The compsn. pref. contains 20-60% of waste or sewage. The process provides power plant or container heating, emergency energy in a crisis, an electrode material, a new low-resistance powder, a light-resistant material, a new galvanotechnique, a method of weldingAl without a protective gas, a filter material, an oil-binding material, a soil improver for agriculture and nurseries, a pigment, and a method of recovery of crude Al.    ADVANTAGE -   Austria's energy requirements can be met, by an environment-friendly process.
The titania is pref. supported on a porous material (e.g. a cloth of glass fibre or a sintered material of glass particles of 1-2 1-200 micro m) by impregnating titania fine particles in a porous matter or forming titania coated film on the surface of a porous matter. Titania turns black TiO2 in the presence of a reducing substance with the application of a light of less than 420 nm.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sensor is useful for detecting reducing substances in gas or liq. esp. reducing organic substance of relatively low mol. weight (e.g. methanol or ethanol or reducing gas such as carbon monoxide, methane or propane) even at normal temp.. The sensor can detect a slight amt. (e.g. 1 ppm.) of e.g. ethanol. The sensor can monitor continuously the concn. of reducing substance in vapur phase or liq. phase. The sensor can be repeatedly used without fatigue or lowering of the sensitivity. The extent of colouring of the sensor is optically detected so that it can be safely used without environmental pollution. Stable detn. can be carried out at any place without being hindered by electric noise.
In film sheet for fermenting methane, holes and connection covers are formed in a film sheet, formed from plastics or rubber by notches in a V-shape and semicircular shape. The film is so mfd. that the covers are opened and closed by the pressure methane gas injected from the inside. Magnetic coating is applied on the holes, the cover, and portions. The covers are easily opened and closed by pressure of methane gas injected from the inside.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Ferments anaerobically methane of sludge simultaneously with redn. of cleaning of aerobic COD of upper water quality by covering bottom sediment sludge. This sheet is used to ferment sludge.
Hydrocarbons having at least 2 carbon atoms are prepd. by bringing a methane-contg. gas (I) maintained at 500-1500 deg.C into contact with an oxygen-containing gas (II) in presence of a novel catalyst comprising (a) single crystal, high purity, ultra-fine powdery magnesium oxide obtained by a gas phase oxidation method, (b) an alkali metal oxide, and opt. (c) at least one oxide of a metal of atomic number 21 (Sc) to 30 (Zn) or 57 (La) to 71 (Lu), having positive divalency or trivalency.    Pref. (a) is formed by bringing magnesium vapour into contact with an oxygen-contaning gas in a turbulently diffused state, using e.g. a double tube burner (described). Particle size is 0.01-0.2 micro m and purity at least 99.98%. (b) is Li, Na, K or Rb oxide, 1-10 mole %, and (c) is e.g. Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, La, Ce or Sm oxide, 1-10 mole %. These components may be added as oxide or as starting material capable of forming the oxide, e.g. hydroxide, carbonate, nitrate, acetate, alkoxide or acetylacetonate, e.g. by kneading or impregnation.    ADVANTAGE -   Conversion of methane and selectivity to C2 hydrocarbons (ethylene and ethane) are high, reaction temp. and catalyst cost are low.
In a new hydrogenation, an unsatd. hydrocarbon having two or more double bonds and/or one or more triple bonds included in a fraction of 4C and higher hydrocarbons is hydrogenated selectively in the presence of a catalyst of a porous inorganic oxide supporting palladium in the presence of carbon monoxide. An electron donor is used additionally. The electron donor is one of alcohols, ethers, nitrogen cpds., and aromatic hydrocarbons, or one metal of Na, K, Ag, Cu, Ga, In, Cr, Mo, and La.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method makes it possible to hydrogenate selectively unsatd. hydrocarbon, such as diolefins and acetylene, without hydrogenating butenes or isomerising butene-1, thus improving the recovery of the industrially useful butenes and the quality of the corresp. polybutenes. Available fractions include the one based on C4 and C5 hydrocarbons obtd. by steam cracking of naphtha.
Destructive distn. of organic material involves (a) preheating the material, without pyrolysis to C, by a hot gas stream, (b) feeding the pre-heated material to a microwave discharge zone, in an atmos. free from O2, at above atmos. pressure, (c) pyrolysing the material by a microwave discharge of sufficient power, and for a sufficient time, to cause fission of C-C bonds and of more polar chemical bonds, to produce solid fission prods. contg. C, and gaseous by-prods., (d) collecting the solids downstream of the microwave discharge zone, and (e) recycling (part of) the gaseous by-prods. to the hot gas stream.    USE -   The organic material is mainly hydrocarbon and/or carbohydrate, esp. rubber (partic. contg. C filler), or waste matter from animals or plants Examples are natural or synthetic rubber, agricultural waste (e.g. citrus fruit peel, olive waste prods., and nut shell) and animal waste (e.g. sewage and slurry).
Appts. comprises a reactor with a gastight lock through which the comminuted material and additionally also steam is introduced and distributed into a catalytic bed.    The bed moves so material for gasification flows along a predetermined path as the produced gas and residual material are removed through the bottom of the bed. The bed is indirectly heated and vibrated so that material is conveyed downwards through the bed, the filler bodies being ceramic carriers for catalytically acting heavy metal.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas of high calorific value and without tar is produced, the surfaces for heat transmission are free from tar deposits. The residual material from gas prodn. does not contain substantial amts. of compsns. which are unacceptable to the environment.
Waste is treated by first removing metallic and glass materials in a dry screening step. The resulting dry materials are passed through a primary rotary disc screen, the resulting solids being separated with an air knife. The solids are mixed with moisture in a horizontal, rotary flow and separated, the resulting sludge mixed with thickened sewage sludge and subjected to an anaerobic process.    Pref. the incoming raw material is first treated in a flail mill to break up containers and like material.    USE -   The process and appts. are used to continuously treat material such as garbage.
A novel membrane-forming material capable of selectively permeating a component of a fluid mixt. comprises a blend of (i) polymethylmethacrylate (or a copolymer contg. at least 50 wt.% Me methacrylate); and (ii) one or more cellulose derivs., pref. cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate and/or cellulose acetate propionate.    Also claimed are composite membranes having such a material as sepn. layer on a porous support, a method of making the composite membranes, and methods of sepg. a gas from gas mixt. using the composite membranes.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The blend retains and enhances the desirable characteristics of (i) and (ii) i.e. high sepn. characteristics of (i) and high permeation of (ii). In the sepn. of H2 from N2 the sepn. factor can be as high as twice that of a cellulose acetate composite membrane and the permeation rate can be twice that of a PMMA composite membrane. At the same time the blend has good film-forming props. The membrane can be used in gas sepn., pervaporation or perstruction sepn. operations. Methods are claimed for using the membrane for selectively permeating the first-named in the following gas mixts.: H2/N2; H2/CH4; CO2/CH4; N2/CH4; or O2/air. The composite membrane can be in hollow fibre form.
A gas mixture is separated by contacting the treated surface of a membrane with the gas mixture under pressure, maintaining a pressure differential across the membrane to that part of the gas mixture perimeter through the membrane and is withdrawn from the low pressure side of the membrane.    The membrane is formed from polysulphone, polyethersulphone, polystyrene, polyarylate, polycarbanate, ethyl cellulose, styrene acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylonitrile lintadiene styrene polymer, or poly(4-vinylanisole/4-vinyl pyridine) by extrusion, moulding or casting. The membrane is surface treated with gaseous fluorine, optionally cobined with SO2, so that at least 10% of the hydrogen groups at the membrane surface are replaced by fluorine.    The membrane is treated with fluorsine at a concn. of 4-50 vol. % at 15-80 deg. C for less than 60 mins. The membrane is asymmetric or a composite, and is in hollow fibre form.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The surface treatment increases the selectivity of the membrane, e.g., it has a separation factor for CO2/methane of 10 and for O2/N2 of 3.
A biomass fuel that is capable of self-sustained burning in a gasification-type suspension burner, is produced from waste water (I) from a food prepn plant, by (a) adding flotation and coagulation chemicals to (I) (which contains fats in an insoluble fraction and protein in a soluble fraction) in such quantities that at least 25% of the soluble fraction is removed in the float sludge (II), and a partially purified process water (III) is produced; (b) feeding (III) to an aerobic treatment system to produce waste activated sludge (IV); (c) thickening a selected portion of (IV) from solids content 1-2% to 6-7% by wt; (d) admixing (on dry wt basis) 3-4 lbs absorptive bulking agent (V) to 1 lb sludge solids, to obtain a biomass mixture having 6-22% fat; the sludge solids here comprise (II) and 0-50% (IV); (e) drying the biomass mixture to a moisture content of up to 15%; (f) regulating the particle size of the mixture to not more than 1/8 in, and (g) conveying the product to a suspension burner of the gasification type.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The wastewater, of high fat and protein content, is obtained e.g. from a fish cannery or poultry or red meat slaughter or processing plant. It is converted to a fuel with addition of less solid material (V), e.g. sawdust, than required in prior processes. The method can compensate for hourly and daily surges in sludge output and fat content of the sludge. Fuel value of the product is typically 11,000 Btu/lb.
A pelletised fuel is mfd. by (a) hydrolysing cellulose-containing material to produce a binder (I); (b) mixing (I) with combustible fines (II) (I) is 2-8 wt. % of the mixture; (c) forming the mixture into pellets; and (d) curing the pellets at ca. 165 deg. C at a pressure not substantially greater than atmospheric.    Ground or fine coal and/or wood chips or sawdust are mixed with dolomite or limestone (provided in quantity sufficient to neutralise the sulphur in the coal) and binder, and the blended mixture pelletised and dried at a temp. sufficient to produce slight scorching of the pellets. The binder is prepd. by combining organic matter, e.g., wood chips, sawdust, straw, corn cobs or rice hulls, with water and an acid catalyst, e.g., carbonic, sulphuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric or acetic acid, and heating the mixture e.g., at 135-150 deg. C in presence of oxygen. The coal is e.g., -50+100 mesh and sawdust less than 10 mesh.. Dolomite or limestone captures 11-100%, e.g., 77-87%, of the sulphur in the coal.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Pellets of use as an industrial fuel are prepd. from coal which is otherwise unusable because of its high sulphur content or because it is in the form of fines, and/or fro wood waste, e.g., sawdust or wood chips. The pellets have sufficient mechanical strength, durability and weatherability to withstand handling.
Compost is prepared in a series of parallel bays. An agitator is moved sequentially through each bay while supported by rails which run along each bay. When the agitator reaches the end of one bay it is moved to the adjacent bay by a dolly and then continues its agitating action.    The agitator has a rotating toothed drum, which is lowered into the compost, and a conveyor which advances the compost along the bay after it has been agitated.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The agitator machine is used to prepare compost from sewage sludge pref. with added sawdust. Typically the compost is advanced 10 ft/day along the bay and is removed after 18 days. A single agitator can service 4 composting bays.
Appts. comprises a stirrer to stir dirty sludge liq. in a reactor tank to fix the dirty sludge to absorptive resins injected into the tank, into which a fermentation waste liq. is added from a gasifier tank.    USE -   For treating organic waste.
A culture soln., obtd. by culturing selectively a propionic acid decomposing bacteria (a) with a methane fermentation bacteria (b) and having a high activity for propionic acid decompsn., is enclosed and fixed in a water-absorbing polymer under anaerobic conditions. The suspension of the enclosed, fixed culture soln. is added to the methane fermentation tank, if necessary, after the suspension is decanted and the supernatant is removed.    The culture soln. contg. (b) is pref. prepd. by adding calcium, sodium or potassium propionate to an activated sludge while a mixed gas of CO2 and N2 is bubbled, and the sludge is cultured anaerobically at 15-30 deg.C. It is pref. enclosed by 'Arasoap 751' (RTM), a water-absorbing polymer, Arakawa Chemical Corp.) to form 2-3mm dia. spherical particles of fixed bacteria.    ADVANTAGE -   The concn. of (a) and (b) may be increased. They hardly pour out of the fermentation tank.
The device comprises a silo enclosed by walls with holes at the bottom and the sides. The bottom of the silo is spaced above the ground.    USE -   Oxygen is supplied sufficiently without agitation.
Sepn. of gas mixts. comprising H2, CH4 and CO is effected by scrubbing with liq. CH4 at low temp., separating H2 from the loaed CH4 by stripping or expansion, and regenerating the loaded CH4 by CO/CH4 sepn.. The novel feature is that the gas obtained by stripping or expansion is contacted with liq. CH4. The feed gas (1) is scrubbed with liq. CH4 (3) at -181 to -178 deg.C to obtain H2 as overhead stream (4). the bottoms stream is expanded (7) to medium pressure and passed to an H2 stripper (8) equipped with a heater (9) to generate stripping vapour. The stripped H2 is scrubbed at thet op of the stripper with a side stream of liq. CH4 (10) comprising 5-15% of the total CH4 recycle stream. The bottoms stream (13) from the stripper is passed to a rectifier column (14) to remove CO (16), and the CH4 is recycled vai a colcooler (19).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is esp. applicable to steam reformer gases. Losses of CO i nthe H2 stream are reduced, giving CO yields above 99%.
Waste soln. after distn. of alcohols is methane fermented after adding a biomass-decomposable enzyme.    The biomass decomposable enzyme is pref. starch decomposable enzyme, vegetable structure decomposing enzyme or their mixt. The starch decomposable enzyme is pref. added in such an amt. that saccharifying power is over 125 units per 1 1 of the waste soln. and the vegetable structure decomposing enzyme in such an amt. that saccharifying power of methyl cellulose is over 40 units per 1 1 of the waste soln. By adding the enzyme, limited dextrin and oligosaccharide are changed to glucose, which can easily be decomposed by methane bacteria, and so the fermentation is promoted. Bacteria producing the enzyme can also be used. The bacteria are incubated in the waste soln. to decompose organic substances with high polymerisation degree and then the waste soln. is fermented.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Waste soln. from alcohol producing factory is treated by the method. Waste solns. with different compsns. can be fermented in the same bioreactor in a short time. By using the biomass decomposable enzyme, sedimentation of sludge formed is promoted and so efficiency in methane fermentation is increased.
A semipermeable gas membrane, for sepg. a gas(es) from a gas mixt., comprises a thin discriminating layer of polycarbonate or polyester carbonate, and a diphenolic polymer residue polymer backbone based on bisphenol AF.    Pref. the membrane has a sepn. factor for O2/N2 of 3.5 or more at 25 deg.C and/or for CO2/CH4 16 or more at 25 deg.C. Also claimed is the sepn. of gases using the membrane, by contacting a feed gas mixt. under pressure with one side of the membrane, maintaining a pressure differential across the membrane so that gas selectively permeates through the membrane from the high pressure side, followed by separate removal of the permeated and non-permeated gases.    The membrane possess high selectivity, high gas permeability, and the ability to operate under extreme conditions of temp. and pressure.
This is a method for reducing by-products, and/or unwanted cpds. that they may contain, in the prodn. of pyrolysis gas from waste or other hydrocarbon-contg. materials. The gas is produced in a pyrolysis reactor and, in a cooling stage, steam that condenses as process water is, at least partly, fed into a fluidised bed operating at above 650 deg.C in the reactor. Several variants of the method are claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is a simple means of minimising the amt. of process water and reducing the amount of harmful materials and unwanted cpds. that it contains.
Catalyst contains (wt. %): (a) 10-99.98 of mordenite which absorbs mols of kinetic dia. more than about 6.6 x A, has a Si/Al atomic ratio of about 5:1 to 100-1, a Na content of less than 0.2, a unit cell vol. V of 2.73-2.78 cu nm and a benzene aosorption capacity of more than about 5, and is presen mainly as needles; (b) a matrix 0-89.98 of Al2O3, SiO2, MgO, natural clays, mixts. of these cpds. or the combinations Al2O3-B2O3; (c) 0.01-15 of Gp. VIII metal(s); and (d) 0.01-1 of Ti. Use of the catalyst of (A) is claimed for the hydroisomerisation reactions of 4-7C fractions rich in n-paraffins.    ADVANTAGE -   The hydroisomerisation selectivity is better than that of the catalyst of EP-A-1 96 965 as a result of adding Ti, the cracking selectivity being reduced. E.q. the selectivity of isomerisation of n-hexane was 99.0 % at 81% conversion.
Process for fermentative degradation of waste organic materials comprises dispersion of CaSO4 (0.050-1.00 kg/m2 surface or 0.1-15 kg/m3 bulk) with the fermentation mixt. Suitable forms of CaSO4 are montmorillonite, Thomas meal and raw phosphate meal.    USE -   The presence of CaSO enhances the composting of plant waste, and the alkalinity of lime is avoided.
A biochemical reaction is carried out in a cavity in a subterranean formation by (a) contacting a substrate (I) of carbonised vegetable material in finely divided state with a hot aq. alkali soln. (II) to produce low. mol. wt. organics; (b) introducing the substrate from the surface to the cavity; (c) introducing a culture of anaerobic microorganisms (III) into the substrate; (d) controlling conditions to those suitable for growth of (III); (e) allowing (III) to grow in the substrate in the cavity, and form a biochemical prod. (IV); (f) recovering (IV) from the cavity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method is of esp. use for biochemical reactions that require large reactors to obtain usable quantities of prod. e.g. conversion of coal or lignite to methane; problems, e.g. of control, when using prior art large digesters are here avoided.
The plant consists of a vertical distillation furnace, and has a waste material loading port at the upper part, a carbide take out port at the lower part, inner and outer cylinders coiled with a spiral shaped inclined plate, distn. chamber formed by the heater at the lower part in the inner cylinder, a vibrator at the upper part of the inner cylinder, a damper below the loading port for controlling loading, a damper at above the take out port for retaining carbide, a produced gas take out port at the upper end of the outer cylinder, a drive control spring, and a produced gas blowing in port at the lower part of the inner cylinder.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The plant can adjust dropping speed of loading waste by changing the inclined angle of the spiral plate. Controlling the vibration allows efficient distn.
Charcoal is made by mechanically depressurising a charcoal furnace, incinerating gas evolved from it before rejecting it to atmosphere, generating steam with the heat produced by the incineration, and using the steam to drive a fan delivering hot air to dry wood and entrain the evolved gas.    An installation for carrying out the process is also claimed.    Specifically a gas outlet with a purge valve passes gas from a pyrolysis furnace to an incinerator with a chimney. The incinerator contains a steam generator with steam tubes, and superheating tubes. Steam from the incinerator drives a turbine with a transmission driving a fan. The fan draws hot air from a jacket surrounding the chimney and passes it through a distributor to a furnace with an open cover drying wood, and to an injector in the gas outlet.    ADVANTAGE -   Carbonisation is rapid and cheap.
This is a method for producing dried wood chips from the wood of leafy and/or coniferous trees. The wood, in the green condition, is chopped into chips and mixed with a fermentable broken-up green mass consisting of bark, foliage, leaves of plants, grass, or mixtures of these. The mixture is compressed in a chamber that is airtight at least at the sides and below, brought to fermentation, and dried by the fermentation heat, the steam and gases being led away. Several variants of the method are claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Wood chips are being increasingly used for heating purposes. Their calorific value depends mainly on their dryness, and excessive moisture must also be avoided for environmental reasons. This production method is labour-saving, has no intermediate storage problem, and produces, with minimum energy from external sources, wood chips that are satisfactorily dried.
CH4 is sepd. from a gaseous mixt. contg. CH4 and CO2 by concn. by contacting the mixt. with a membrane comprising a film of a polyimide resin with a repeating unit of formula (I) which allows CO2 to selectively pass through.    In (I), R1 is divalent aromatic, alicyclic or aliphatic hydrocarbon gp., or a gp. composed of these hydrocarbon gps. linked through a divalent organic linking gp.    The membrane may comprise an elastomeric polymer film formed on the polyimide resin membrane where the polyimide resin film has a coefft. of CO2/CH4 sepn. of at least 0.7 and the elastomeric polymer film has a coefft. of CO2/CH4 sepn. of at least 3 and a softening pt. of at least 50 deg.C. The elastomeric polymer is pref. crosslinked esp. a crosslinked silicone resin with mol. wt. 10000-300000.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The gaseous mixts. include natural gas, off-gas of oil field gas, blast furnace gas and burning furnace gas. The membrane has good permeability to CO2, resistant to heat, acid and hydrocarbons and mechanical strength.
Processing and conversion of contaminated problem paste into products for mfr. of building materials or ballast material for mines is carried out by mixing the waste withflotation gangu from coal recovery from slurries with 14-16% water and firing the mixt. at above 450 deg.C to obtain an environmentally neutral ceramic residue which is free of organic components and contains only the heavy metal combined in water non-leachable form in the ceramic. This ceramic residue can be ground to produce mining mortar or used without grinding as mine ballast material.
Compost is prepd. from moistened organic waste and refuse in bins with a V- or W-shaped cross-section. The side walls have adjustable openings for the escape of CO2 formed during the rotting process in the waste. They also promote a flow of air which leaves at the top surface. Control flaps permit an adjustment of the flow rate.    ADVANTAGE -   Creates optimum composting conditions and improves the compost quality.
Compost bin for the prepn. of organic fertiliser of organic waste and refuse comprises a base frame and two hinged side frames which can be moved for discharging into a position flat on the base frame between side walls. The latter are fixed to a hollow shaft attached to The base frame. Adequate aeration openings are adjustable by closure caps. The change in the position of the side frames is effected by vertical power cylinders which are also reciprocated to assist the mixing of the raw material.    ADVANTAGE -   Speeds up the composting process and improves the compost quality.
Improved efficiency in the regeneration of cooking liquor for wood pulp treatment is due to the regeneration of SO2 while deriving fuel with the liquor subject to ultrafiltration. This provides the sugar fractions and the conc. soln. of lignosulphonic acids. The sugar fractions are fed to the microbiological processing for fodder proteins while the fraction of lignosulphonic acids is hydrolysed above the catalyst to separate SO2. The remaining prods. are extd. for hydrogenation at the second stage of hydrogenolysis to derive engine fuel.    The water-alcohol liquor is fed to column (1) for driving off the volatiles, and the SO2 is transferred to the compressor (2). The soln. of lignosulphonic acids and sugar is derived from the bottom of the column and is sepd. by the ultrafiltration set 3-5 with the concn. of the acids raised to 35-38% in weight of dry substances. The hydrogenolysis is carried out in two stages with the sulpho-gps. split to be reduced to SO2 which are liquefied in the compressor (2) for directing to the liquor prepn. The two-phase system from unit (6) is extd. with aromatic hydrocarbons in the unit (7) obtd. in the final stage (8) of hydrogenolysis. The resulting mixt. of aromatic hydrocarbons passes through the cooler (9) to form the marketed product.    ADVANTAGE -   The regeneration of the liquor for digesting wood pulp in water-alcohol solution of SO2 is assisted with aromatic hydrocarbons. Bul.39/23.10.88
Arrangement for fermentation of waste vegetable matter comprises a device for smashing and dehydrating the vegetables by rotating a drum in which a number of stabbing blades are formed on a bottom plate and including a number of small holes over the whole peripheral wall, a device for sepg. fine pieces of the vegetables suitable for fermentation, a device for mixing and smashing mixture of dehydrated fine pieces and fish meat or like, and a device for heating and agitating the mixt. to promote fermentation.    ADVANTAGE -   Since water content of smashed vegetables is reduced it can be used as fertiliser.
Acid gas absorbent compsn comprises a diethylene glycol di(1-4C)alkyl ether of formula R1-0-(C2H40)2R2 (I) (where R1, R2 each = 1-4C alkyl) and a polyethylene glycol dialkyl ether of formula R3-0-(C2H40)nR4 (II) (where R3, R4 each = 1-4C alkyl; and n = 3-8). Pref molar ratio (I):(II) is 95:5-60:40, esp 85:15-65:35.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Partic for absorption of acid gases (C02,H2S) from natural gas, synthetic gas, coke oven gas, etc. The absorbent has a high capacity, and addn of (II), lowers the vapour pressure so that absorption need not be carried out at low temps.
Low-alkali clinker is made in a rotary kiln by reaction of basic parts of alkali containing raw material with halogen-containing industrial waste, e.g. from the PVC manufacture or petrochemical industry, mixed with injected or pumped fuels. The fuel is sprayed in the hottest zone of the kiln and should have halogen content of 3-40 wt%.    ADVANTAGE -   This utilises the calorific value of industrial waste and prevents environmental pollution.
Process for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons comprises (i) contacting CH4 with S under CS2-forming conditions, (ii) contacting the CS2 formed in (i) with CH4 and H2 under MeSH-forming conditions, whereby CH4 is converted along with CS2; and (iii) contacting the MeSH of (ii) with a sufficient catalyst under conditions sufficient to produce H2S and a mixt. of 2C-plus hydrocarbons.    The molar ratio S/CH4 in the reaction mixt. of (i) is pref. 0.5 or less (esp. 0.2 or less). The molar ratio of H2/H2S produced in this step is pref. 1 or more (esp. 4 or more). Alternatively, the reaction mixt. of step (1) may contain enough S to convert all the H in the CH4 reactant to H2S.    USE -   The CH4 of natural gas could be converted to higher hydrocarbons, so facilitating storage and handling.
Thermal storage system comprises: (i) a closed container; (ii) a storage medium in the container comprising water and a hydrate agent (I) capable of forming clathrate crystals with the water, where the density of (I) is different from that of water and the amt. of water is in stoichiometric excess w.r.t. the amt. required to form clathrate with all of (I); (iii) a system for continuously removing water from the container; (Iv) a system for continuously removing (I) from the container; (v) a system for combining and intimately mixing the removal (I) and water+ (vi) a device for cooling the mixt. of (I) and water; and (vii) nozzles for injecting the cooled soln. into container under pressure to form clathrate crystals in the container.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Useful for heating, air conditioning and process cooling. The latent and sensible heats of clathrate hydrate storage materials promote effective heat transfer circulation of the clathrate slurry enhances clathrate prodn. through increased agitation and heat transfer. The crystals produced are relatively small, giving a large surface area in contact with the water and facilitating rapid transfer of sensible (Previously notified in week 8918)
Disused sleeper or thinned wood is treated by dry distillation in coke oven. Residual of treatment i.e. dry distillation completed red heat charcoal is, same as read heat coke, discharged by pusher from carbonising chamber to extinguisher carriage via guide carriage or to bucket.    USE -   A large amt. of waste wood is processed without environmental pollution. Obtd. charcoal is effectively used for soil enrichment agent or low grade activated charcoal used for deodorant treatment of sewage.
Methanohalococcus alcaliphilum (MA) having an optimum growth NaCl concn. of 2.5-3 M is claimed.    Also claimed is a method for the prodn. of methane by cultivating the MA under anaerobic conditions in the presence of a suitable substrate, pref in the presence of sodium formate, sodium acetate, methanol or of a methylamine and recovering the methane produced.    A variety of halophilic and alkalophilic methanogenic bacteria were isolated from soil of high salt content. These bacteria were cultured and examined. As a result, there were isolated 2 kinds of extremely halophilic methanogenic bacteria having different optimum growth pH range. Bacteria NY-218 (FERM BP-2079) have optimum growth pH of 8-8.5. Bacteria NY-844 (FERM BP-2080) have an optimum growth pH of 7.5-8.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The methanogenic bacteria can be used for methane fermentation at an alkaline pH, a high salt concn., and at lower temps. This makes it possible to use a wide variety of biomass waste in the methane prodn. The bacteria can also be used as a source of genes encoding properties favourable for special environments or resistances to special environmental conditions to develop an effective methane fermentation or to efficiently produce other useful substances.
In the stripping of H2- and CO- contg. gas mixts. by partial condensation and then rectification at low temp. to form an H2-rich and a CO-rich stream, the condensate from the partial condensation is expanded in a sepn. column for withdrawal of a liq. CH4 fraction from the bottom, a gaseous H2 residual gas fraction from the top and a liq. CO product fraction from the middle.    Appts. for carrying out the process includes a divided separator column, the upper part of which acts mainly as an H2 stripper and the lower part of which acts mainly as a CO/CH4 sepn. column.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process is useful for stripping H2, CO and CH4 crude gases from steam reforming. High prod. purity is obtd. at minimal material costs.
Proposed compsn. comprises waste from sewage purificn. process, i.e. nitrate-regeneration soln. of ion-exchange resins from H-cationite filters, neutralised with ammonium hydroxide and concentrated by evapn. to the content of salts 45-50 wt.%. The compsn. contains (in wt.%): ammonium nitrate 58-66, calcium nitrate 23-26, magnesium nitrate 5-7 and sodium nitrate 8-12.    The compsn. is added to irrigation water in ratio 1:(300-900) and added to soil in amt. 1000 kg/ha.    Tests show that the use of proposed compsn. increases effectiveness of soil melioration owing to increase of water impermeability and reduces dispersion factor, vol. wt. and cost of melioration.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In agriculture as compsn. preventing accumulation of Na+ salts in irrigated humus soils. Improved efficiency and improved physico-chemical properties of treated soil. Bu.39/23.10.88
Vegetable waste and is mixed with the sewage slurry is quantities ensuring a 25-35 C/N /1 ratio. 3-10kg active carbon/m3 is added and the water content is adjusted to 50-75%. The mixture is heated, stirred and stored.
Gas cigarette lighter has a liquified gas fuel store (1) which contains liquefied butane gas (a) and a small amt. of perfume.    Perfume is pref. synthetic or natural essential oils, including limonene, lemon oil, orange oil, grapefruit oil, lime oil or bergamot oil, comprised chiefly of limonene, methyl isobutyrate, ethyl-n-butyrate, ethyl caprylate, ethyl propionate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl-2-methyl butyrate, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl isovalerate, ethyl aceto acetate, cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, linalyl acetate etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   As a cigarette lighter which emits a desired fragrance whenever the liquefied gas is dispensed to operate the lighter. Dispenses fragrance only when the lighter is operated so that the fragrance is long lasting and does not soil clothes.
Plant material, esp. large bushes etc. is picked up by a grab on a jib pivotally mounted on the roof of a transporter vehicle, and dropped into a chute at the rear of the vehicle. During loading the material is engaged by rotary choppers and reduced to small pieces, which at a tipping site are laterally ejectable by a worm feeder.    At the site, the discharged material is fed through a pipe to a distributor at the centre of a deposit area bounded by uprights supporting a raisable roof. The distributor rotates to scatter the pieces centrifugally over the area, to form a layer whose subsequent composting can be aided by air delivered from underground pipes. The roof is then raised to provide space for a further layer.    ADVANTAGE -   Relatively small amts. of waste material are conveniently handled.
Solid, lignin and gaseous fuels are produced by subjecting wood and cellulose lignin containing materials such as bushes, shrubs and annuals to a bacterial fermentation to convert them into material with a protein and lipid content, followed by a low-temperature carbonization.    ADVANTAGE -   This produces a good ratio of solid, liquid and gaseous types of fuel.
Sludge is digested anaerobically to produce methane, a concentrated sludge and a supernatant. Additional sludge is mixed with the supernatant and the mixture reintroduced to the digestion system. The methane is transferred to a storage are from where it is used to heat a rotary dryer into which the concentrated sludge has been transferred. The sludge is dried to give a solid product useful as a soil improver. Waste heat from the dryer is used to maintain the temp. of the digestion system at 105-130 deg.F.. Pref. the methane is also used to generate electricity in a waste gas turbine.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is efficient and produces saleable end-products, e.g. a soil improver and electricity.
(A) Semi-permeable gas sepn. membrane comprises a thin discriminating layer consisting mainly of a carbonate polymer derived from a bisphenol of formula (I), each R independently = H, Cl, Br or 1-4C alkyl; R1 = -C-O, -S-, -SO2-, -O-, 1-6C divalent fluorocarbyl or inertly substd. hydrocarbyl; provided that in at least 25 wt.% of the moieties derived from the bisphenol (I), R = exclusively Br or Cl; the membrane having a sepn. factor of O2 and N2 at 24 deg.C of at least 6,1 and a reduced flux of 3.35 x 10 power (9cc/cm2) x sec. x cm Hg or greater for O2.    (B) Process for sepg. O2 from N2 comprises contacting a gas stream contg. O2 and N2 with the membrane of (A) under such conditions that O2 permeates selectively,.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The sepn. factor for O2 and N2 is pref. 6.7 or greater at 20 deg.C. The membranes also show high sepn. factors for sepg. CO2 from CH4. They have good mechanical properties and are resistant to high temp. and pressure.
Manmade log formed from compressed wood has a cylindrical scented bore. Longitudinally extending holes are arranged in a circle around the bore and scented rods are placed in the holes. Pref. the scent is pine, cedar, floral, cologne, musk, perfume, opium or a fruity scent.    ADVANTAGE -   Easily made, reliable construction, and low cost.
To solidify a water-contg. sludge, a substance obtd. by mixing 20-200 wt.% of bentonite to a high water absorbable resin is added to the sludge in an amt. of 1-5 wt.%.    Bentonite with a small particle size and high strong smell is pref. used. A mixt. of an anionic high water absorbable resin and a cationic high water absorbable resin in a ratio of 1:10-10:1 is pref. used. The bentonite may contain oil particles and forms a permeable film on the surface of a water absorbed gel particle, which inhibits free water among the absorbed gel particles and by which the fluidity of the sludge is lost. The anionic powdery high absorbable resin is typically prepd. by mixing 460 wt.pts. of 30% ammonia water and 50 wt. pts. of water with 720 wt.pts. of acrylic acid, adding 0.4 wt.pts. of methylene bis-acrylamide as a crosslinking agent, 0.7 wt.pts. of ammonium persulphate or sodium hydrogen persulphate as a polymerisation initiator, heating the soln. 60 deg.C to polymerise, grinding the polymerised lump obtd. and sepg. the ground substance using a sieve.    ADVANTAGE -   A water-contg. sludge contg. oil can be solidified without the oil leaking from the sludge.
Tubular means to convert molecules of one molecular weight into molecules of another molecular weight includes interior surface exposed to molecules comprises surfaces having beneath it a semiconducting layer electrically connected to first external potential source. An electrical current flows in layer and so that a portion of the electrons of current is available at surface to provide charges needed to sustain operation. Also claimed is number of tubular means are joined together in an array so that the axes of tubular means are disposed parallel with each other.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Conversion of size of hydrocarbon molecules in process stream. Provides an electrical device which combines molecules of low molecular weight into molecules of higher molecular weight.
Container (2) for fermenting solid wastes has loading/unloading units communicating by overflow pipelines (5) to container (8) to ferment liquid wastes, with heat-exchanger, loading/unloading units for liquid wastes linked by pump and circulating pipe to unit loading solid wastes. Heat-exchanger is autoclave (13) working at temp. above 100 deg. C, with ejector, pressure-nozzle of which is connected to steam-pipe and suction pipe to circulation pipe. Autoclave is connected to loading units for solid/liquid wastes.    Solid wastes pass through loading unit (1) to which liquid stabilising prod. is fed at 35-55 deg. C and biologically-active substance at temp. above 100 deg. C. Mixing and partial heating take place, and mixt. moves into container (2) where the heat-transfer between ingredients takes place. Temp. evens out within optimal limits is 35-55 deg. C to allow fermentation to proceed. Waste solids are unloaded from unit (4), while the liquid prod. is continuously sepd. from (2) via internal perforated screen (3), going by pipe (5) to be fermented in container (8). The methane leaves by pipe (6).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the anaerobic treatment of solid and liquid fermentable wastes, in stations for purifying domestic and industrial effluents, as well as processing wastes from animal complexes. Productivity is increased by speeding biochemical oxidn. of solids and liquids, improving quality of stabilised prods., and raising operational reliability. Bul.37/7.10.88
Nitrogen is sepd. from a feed gas stream (I) contg methane and nitrogen, to obtain a product stream (II) comprising methane and having lower nitrogen content than (I), by (a) sepg (I) in a first distillation column (K1) at a superatmospheric pressure (P1) and subambient temp. into a bottom condensate (III) of nitrogen content less than that of (I), and a overhead vapour stream (IV) comprising methane and having nitrogen content more than that of (I); (b) sepg. (IV) in a second distillation column (K2) with reboil and reflux of overhead vapour, at a superatmospheric pressure (P2) that is less than P1 and at subambient temp., into an overhead stream (V) of nitrogen content greater than that of (IV ), and a bottoms methane-contg. condensate stream (VI) of nitrogen content less than that of (I); and (c) prior to reducing the pressure of stream (IV) from K1 for sepn. in K2, effecting indirect heat exchange between (IV) and liquid column bottoms of K2, to provide part or all of the reboil of K2 and at least partial condensation of stream (IV). At least one of streams (III) and (VI) comprises the product stream (II).    ") and (VI) comprises    USE/ADVANTAGE -   (I) is esp. natural gas. The present method is less energy intensive at low nitrogen concn, e.g. less than 50 mol%, esp 5-15%, than prior single or double column methods of removing nitrogen. Nitrogen content may be reduced to 0.5% or less, or to e.g. to 3-4% as required.
Municipal waste has at least some non biodegradable components sorted out and the remaining material is comminuted and subjected to a substantially anaerobic digestion process.    Specifically waste is received and passes through a sorting stage, if the waste is mainly organic it may go direct to the digestor otherwise it is shredded, screened, passed through a magnetic separator to the anaerobic digester which has a tank at a temperature of 50 to 60 deg C held under positive pressure. Biogas produced in the digester is fed to a gas engine to produce electricity.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the disposal of municipal waste partic from food processing industries. Provides an economic process for treating municipal waste which provides a growing medium at the output (36) of the digestion process and biogas which can be used for the prodn. of electricity.
The sloping sided pit for holding refuse, liquids, organic substances and solvents such chlorinated hydrocarbons has its surface protected by layers with an bituminous binder and filling substances in proportions such that cavities will not form while hot. The maximum particle size of the filler is above 0.09 mm and the weight of the material smaller than this is a ratio to the whole weight of the filler so that the volume of the entire mixture is greater than the spaces between the coarse material.    The material can include fibres for stiffening and the bituminise substance can include a polymer such as polyethylene or polypropylene. A further protective layer such as earth, sand concrete or a hardening resin can be added. The protective layer pref. contain expoxy resin or a mixt. of epoxy resin and tar.    ADVANTAGE -   Long life protection from seepage of fluids.
The Parent Patent described a method of heat treatment of bulk material, e.g. drying, calcining, roasting, O.T. carbonising of biomass waste, soda or ores. The materials which migrates along a channel in a fluid bed are traversed in cross flow by hot gas. The gases are extracted, dedusted, heated indirectly by heat exchangers and recycled.    ADVANTAGE -   Eliminates the high content caused by the Parent Patent. The improved process has a much wider scope.
Normal butane is isomerised in the liq. phase to isobutane by contact at less than 50 deg. C for less than 30 min with a catalyst compsn. consisting essentially of (a) 95-99 wt.% fluorosulphuric acid, and (b) 1-5 wt.% trifluoromethanesulphonic acid or sulphuric acid, and recovery thereafter of isobutane.    Normal butane is isomerised to isobutane by contacting a charge stock consisting of normal butane and 0.05-10 wt.% (on the charge) of a 2-10C olefin at less than 50 deg. C (e.g. 10-30 deg. C) for less than 30 min. (e.g. 0.5-5 min) with a catalyst compsn. consisting essentially of (a) 95-99 wt.% fluorosulphuric acid, and (b) 1-5 wt.% hydrogen fluoride, sulphuric acid and/or trifluoromethanesulphuric acid, and thereafter recovering isobutane.    ADVANTAGE -   The isomerisation takes place at low temp. and very short contact time, allowing use of a continuous flow system. The added olefin provides an equilibrium concn. of cations during the reaction, thereby minimising decrease in catalyst activity. Conversion of ca. 70% to isobutane is obtd. with minimal prodn. of cracked and secondary reaction prods.
A distillate range hdyrocarbon feedstock (I) is subjected to paraffin isomerization by contacting it with a catalyst including a crystalline zeolite (II) and a Gp. VIII metal (III) at 390-850 deg.F, 100-1000 psig. (I) is of boiling range 330-650 deg.F, paraffin content of molecules of not more than 20 C atoms, and at least 20 ppm nitrogen impurities. (II) is characterised by (a) a ratio of sorption of n-hexane to o-xylene more than 3 (vol.% basis, determined at P/Po 0.1, and at 50 deg.C for n-hexane and 80 deg.C for o-xylene), (b) ability of selectively cracking 3-methylpentane (3MP) in preference to 2,3-dimethylbutane (DMB) at 1000 deg.F, 1 atmos. pressure, in a 1/1/1 mixt. of n-hexane/3MP/DMB, with ratio of rate constants k3MP/kDMB more than 2, and (c) siO2/Al2O3 ratio at least 20:1.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   n-Paraffins are isomerised to branched paraffins without significant reduction in the distillate range yield; the catalyst is resistant to poisoning by nitrogen-containing cpds.
An aq. soln. of 2-propanol is dispersed with powdered silicon and radiated with light while being heated.    Addn. of silicon with small band gaps promotes efficient conversion from the propanol through acetone and H2 into a high-calorie mixed gas contg. H2, CH4, O2, CO, and CO2.    ADVANTAGE -   With the inexpensive and non-toxic silicon used, the simple method provide a high-calorie fuel gas. It allows effective use of solar energy, both light and heat, and of low-temp. waste heat from industry and household which has scarcely been used.
A composting system for very wet organic waste such as biomass, garden refuse and sewage sludge, includes a shredding and sorting of the first two components, followed by two rotting stages. In the first, it is admitted with partly rotted material to reduce its moisture content, and in the second stage the third component is added to complete the rotting process.    After shredding and screening the waste passes over a magnetic separator and into a first mixing drum where partly rotted material with 30% moisture content is added to reduce that of the mixt. to 50%. The first rotting stage uses a rotary drum or an aerated stock pile. In the second rotting stage, sewage sludge with 90% moisture content is added to produce 50% in the mixt. This second stage is best effected in an aerated stockpile.    ADVANTAGE -   Minimises the capital and operating costs. The plant is simple and no excessive evil smells are generated.
Unleaded fuel compsns. (A) having an octane rating of 100 or more comprises toluene and alkylate and at least 2 components chosen from methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE), isopentane and n-butane.    The unleaded fuel may comprise (vol.%) 46-60 toluene, 7-15 isopentane, 15-35 alkylate and 5-10 MTBE; or 48-60 toluene, 2-8 isopentane, 20-35 alkylate, 5-10 MTBE and 1-5 n-butane. The fuel compsn. may also contain at least 1% of isobutylene and/or isobutane as a volatility trimming agent (VTA). If both isobutylene and isobutane are used, the pref. max. VTA concn. is 9 (esp. 6) vol.%. The unleaded fuel compsn. (A) is claimed, in which the OV as calculated by equation (1) is 99 or more. OV= 7.427B + 0.3476I + 0.92922A + 1.07801T + 0.095M - 0.06170BI -0.06967BA - 0.06973BT - 0.05728BM + 0.0056291A + 0.005671T + 0.017051M - 0.000311AT + 0.01189AM + 0.00912TM where the concn. (vol.%) are given by: B, n-butane; I, isopentane, A, alkylate; T, toluene; M, MTBE.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Unleaded gasolines in accordance with ASTM D439 specifications, Classes A to D, and racing gasolines can be formulated. A formula for the octane value (OV) as a function of the vol. concns. of the above 5 components enables OV values to be predicted within about 1 (most usually 0.3) octane units.
Animal and/or vegetable material contg nutrients e.g. amino acid, etc and mineral or inorganic chemical material are added to a waste soln after alcohol fermentation with yeast virus.    A soln of animal protein or soln of fish solubles is used as the animal and/or vegetable material and inorganic fertiliser contg at least one of N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn is used as the inorganic chemical material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane fermentation of the waste soln obtd after alcohol fermentation is carried out. Waste water from brewing can be fermented.
Improved process for mechanically dewatering organic carbonaceous materials having a moisture content of 55-98 wt.% total water comprises (a) adding hard, non-porous solid particulates which are inert to the organic carbonaceous materials and water having average particle diameters of 0.04-7.0mm to the organic carbonaceous feed materials, forming an admixture having 25-60 wt.% of the particulates; (b) mechanically dewatering the admisture, the solid particulates providing in situ dewatering of the organic carbonaceous materials on the surfaces of the non-porous solid particulates; and (c) sepg. the particulates from the carbonaceous materials subsequent to application of the mechanical dewatering means to provide a dewatered organic carbonaceous prod. unaltered in physical and chemical properties from the organic carbonaceous feed material, except for the reduction in moisture content, the dewatered organic carbonaceous prod. having a moisture content of less than about 50 wt.%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Improved mechanical dewatering process for peat, agricultural and municipal waste, sewage sludge, and biomass are mixed with additive particulates and mechanically dewatered to about 50 wt.% water content which is suitable for use directly as a fuel, or in the case of peat, for horticultural purposes.
Sludge is compacted using a screw feeder, discharged through holes and cut into particles. Water adjusting agent is added and prod. is sent to a fermentation tank, fermented and dried, and water adjusting agent is reused.    USE -   Stable compost can be obtd. Processed matter can be reused.
Nitrogenous ingredients are removed from faeces by adding to the faeces a fermentated product prepd. by washing faeces of earthworm with water, adding them with rice bran and then predetermined amounts of broth, glucide and salt and fermentating the mixt..    The faeces of earthworm removes nitrogenous ingredients from human excreta.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The fermentated prod. is scattered directly into an excreta reservoir to remove nitrogenous ingredients slowly.
Gas contg. CH4 and water is transported in a pipe, under conditions where a hydrate could form in absence of additives, by (a) adding a solvent comprising DMF, N-formlylmorpholine and/or N-methylpyrrolidone to the gas at the inlet to the pipe, (b) transporting the mixt. in the pipe in a state of polyphase flow, (c) at the reception site, sepg. gas- and solvent-phases, and (d) regenerating the solvent phase by expansion and/or distn..    USE -   Gas is natural gas and (a) is carried out at the prodn. site, or the gas may be a refinery gas also contg. H2, with (a) carried out at a 1st industrial site where the gas is produced, and (c) and (d) at a 2nd industrial site where the gas is used. The gas may originate from an under-sea wellhead, with the pipe under the sea, and (c) and (d) carried out on land. The gas may also contain a liq. hydrocarbon fraction, which is transported with the gas and which is finally sepd. from gas- and solvent-phases by decantation.
The separator comprises (1) a cylindrical stainless steel pressure vessel (1) incorporating an inlet and outlet, (2) a trickle-separator arranged inside pressure vessel (1) whereby the sepd. liq. can be removed from the pressure vessel and (3) a filter fitted in the pressure vessel. The components are located in such a manner that the liquid flow on introduction into the vessel first traverses the trickle-separator and subsequently the candle type filter prior to exiting the vessel. The filter preferably consists of a refined steel fibre material.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The separator can be used for gas purificn. arrangements particularly suitable for safety plant of nuclear-or bio-reactors. The arrangement prevents or reduces any contamination of the environment during normal reactor operation and in cases of reactor accidents.
The selectivity of the conversion of n-heptane on zeolite catalysts is controlled by converting n-heptane, or a hydrocarbon mixt. contg. it, on a catalyst charge comprising a mechanical mixt. of (a) mouldings of a zeolite component free from hydrogenation metal, and (b) mouldings of a non-zeolitic component contg. hydrogenation metal.    Conversion is at 400-800 deg.K and a partial pressure of n-heptane in the raw material of 10-1000 kPa. (a) The zeolite is in the H form or exchanged with ions of elements of Main Gps. 2-4 and/or Sub-Gps. 3 and 4, and opt. contains a binder. Pref. zeolites are erionite, pentasilzeolite or Y-zeolite.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   n-Heptane is converted mainly to propane, or to a mixt. of propane, butane, pentane and hexane. Prodn. of propane, or a mixt. of propane and higher hydrocarbons, can be controlled as wished.
Biomass, specially domestic and garden refuse, is composted in a container which is subdivided and at half the height by a retention grating into an upper fermentation/digestion chamber and a lower rotting chamber. Flaps are provided to open the latter for the extraction of the finished compost.    ADVANTAGE -   Container takes up little space and creates useful compost.
An inoculum for silage comprises lactic acid bacteria, pref. lactococcus, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc or Pediococcus, partic. Lactobacillus plantarum and E. faecalis, transformed with an exogenous DNA which codes for an enzyme that breaks down an oligosaccharide and/or a polysaccharide into a fermentable carbohydrate. The exogenous DNA may code for an amylase, pectinase, cellulase or hemicelluslase, pref. alpha-amylase, beta-amylase, glucoamylase, isoamylase, pullulanase, endoglucanase, exoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, pectic lyase, pectic glycosidase, pectic methyl esterase, xylanase, mannanase, arabinanase, inulinase, levanase or fructanase.    Also claimed is a probiotic characterised by the transformed lactic acid bacteria, provided the bacteria are not streptococcus unless the bacteria are transformed with at least 2 of the exogenous DNAs.    Also claimed is DNA which codes for an amylase, characterised by a specified DNA sequence. Also claimed is an amylase having a specified amino acid sequence.    Also claimed are the transformed lactic acid bacteria, provided the bacterial are not Streptococcus unless the bacteria are transformed with at least 2 of the exogenous DNAs. Also claimed is a method for detecting a microorganism, partic lactic acid bacteria, transformed with 2 or more exogenous DNAs, one of which codes for an enzyme, partic. and amylase, characterised by detecting the enzyme produced by the microorganism.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The transformed lactic acid bacteria can breakdown polysaccharides and oligosaccharides in a silage crop to provide a complete source of the fermentable carbohydrates that the lactic acid bacteria need for producing lactic acid. The probiotic can be used for establishing and maintaining optimal intestinal flora in animals, including humans.
Catalyst comprises a Mo-W-contg. complex of formula MoaWbMcAdOe (I) (where M = metal(s) from Gps. IB, IIB, IVB, VB or VIII and/or one or more of Y, Cr, Mn, Re, B, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, Th or U; A = alkali(ne earth) metal(s) and/or lanthamide(s) and/or Tl; a = 1-200; b = 1-200; with the proviso that either Mo or W is in excess of the other, the ratio a:b being 90:1-4:1 or 1:4-1:90; c = no. such that c:(a+b) = 0:100-10:100; d = no. such that d:(a+b) = 0:100-75:100; and e = no. satisfying the valence requirements of the metals). The complex is pref. supported.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for conversion of methane in presence of O2 to form higher hydrocarbons, including ethane and/or ethylene. The methane is esp. natural gas, the other components of the gas (other hydrocarbons, water, CO2, N2, CO, etc.) being non-interfering. The conversion may be integrated with additional steps for converting the higher hydrocarbon prods. to e.g. EtOH, ethylene glycol, polyethylene, etc., useful as fuels, fuel additives and lubricants. The catalyst gives higher selectivities to higher mol. wt. hydrocarbons, higher conversion rates, longer catalyst life and avoidance of corrosive and/or expensive gas phase promoters. The use of feed streams contg. O2 (e.g. air) permits the use of simplified process techniques.
In an alkanolamine sorbent gas conditioning process, acid gases are removed from natural and synthetic gas streams. Heat stable salts of alkanolamines are formed. An appts. including an absorber and a thermal regenerator is used.    A portion of the lean regenerated amine sorbent soln. produced in the thermal regenerator is treated in an electrochemical cell. This includes a container sepd. into two compartments, the cathode compartment having an electroconductive expanded metal plate cathode. The anode compartment includes an anode made from platinum or a metal coated with platinum. The cell operates at high current density and is stable for at least 5000 hrs.    The portion is delivered to the cathode compartment from where a lower concn. heat stable salt lean sorbent is removed. This is mixed with a portion of the incoming lean soln. and the combined streams are returned to the absorber.    ADVANTAGE -   The cell is economical to operate and converts the heat stable salts of alkanolamines formed in the thermal regeneration of a gas conditioning process to the free amine which can be recycled to the gas conditioning process.
Prodn. of an aq. slurry feed for a partial oxidn. gasifier for prodn. of synthesis gas, reducing gas or fuel gas is effected by wet grinding a solid fuel (I) with an aq. suspension (II) of slag, fly ash and char to produce a slurry with a solids content of 50-75 wt.% and a particle size below 1400 microns.    (I) is anthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, particulate carbon, coal coke, petroleum coke, coal liquefaction residue, oil shale, tar sand and/or asphaltic bitumen.    (II) has a solids content of 1-50 wt.% and a particle size of 37-2000 microns, is produced by quench cooling and/or scrubbing of the hot (1700-3000 deg.F) raw gas from the gasifier, and contains 0.1-10 wt.% (based on solids) of a surfactant of formula RO(AO)yAM, where R = (9024C alkyl)phenyl, A = C2H4 or C3H6, M = OH, SO3Na or OSO3Na and y = 5-39, provided that the molecular wt. is 484-1980. Suspensions of type (II) are also claimed per se.    ADVANTAGE -   The surfactant reduces the viscosity and increases the sedimentation resistance of the suspensions and the resulting fuel slurries.
A charcoal furnace has a body with valved air inlet apertures in its base, a cover closing the upper end of the body, a dome sliding in the body with a chimney sliding in a sleeve in the cover, and a rim on the dome cooperating with a seat in the body to snuff out the fire when carbonisation is complete.    ADVANTAGE -   The volume of air above wood in the furnace can be adjusted to match the volume of wood, and the fire can be extinguished automatically.
Mixed vegetable waste is composted by storing at least some of its components separately, and then processing them together. An installation for composting vegetable waste is also claimed.    Grass clippings and dead leaves are kept separately in a storage zone in alternating dumps. A tractor takes the grass clippings and lays them in strips in a composting area after grinding them. A truck adds the dead leaves to the strips. Alternatively, the tractor spreads a mixture of grass clippings dead leaves in the strips. The tractor sprays the strips with water, and it and the truck periodically turn them. After fermentation, the compost is transferred to a third area to mature. The grass clippings and dead leaves are added to the storage area seasonally, and are held long enough to ensure that compost is always made from a mixture of both.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for gardening waste from towns. The compost is homogeneous and is made cheaply.
Method comprises cylindrical electrochemical cell (1) formed of a ceramic material in which a cavity, and having a process side (7) in communication with a portion of the gas stream flowing into the cavity (3) through the diffusion limiting port (5), a reference side (9) in fluid communication with a reference gas, and an electrolyte (11) separating the process side (7) and the reference side (9) of the electrochemical cell (1). The potential difference across the electrochemical cell (1) is adjusted to yield a steady state electrical current flow whereby the flow of oxygen ions from the reference side (9) of the electrochemical cell (1) through the electrolyte (11) to the process side (7) is equal to the flow of combustible gases from the gas stream through the diffusion limiting port (5) into the cell cavity (3). Specific electrical current flow measurements are obtd. in which the number of electrical current flow measurements is equal to the number of combustible gases in the gas stream. The total pressure of the gases in the gas stream is measured and the total pressure and the electrical current flow measurements are converted into an indication of the concn. of each of the n combustible gases in the gas stream.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for determining the concn. of a number of combustible gases in a gas stream.
The following are claimed (a) Aspergillus niger B1 or a mutant of it, (b) a flavour- or fragrance-enhancing enzyme of Aspergillus niger B1 or mutant, or an enzyme which is a functional equivalent of the enzyme, (c) a recombinant DNA molecule which encodes the enzyme of (b), and (d) a method of hydrolysing a glycoside present in a plant, plant extract or fermentation prod. to produce an aglycone comprising (i) providing an enzyme which is endo-beta-glucosidase B1 or a functional deriv. and (ii) cultivating or incubating the plant, extract or prod. with the enzyme under conditions to permit the enzyme to hydrolyse the glycoside. The aglycone may be a monoterpene or an odorous fused oil and the presence of the aglycone may produce an enhanced flavour or fragrance.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The A. niger B1 enzyme has endo-beta-glucosidase activity, tannase activity and/or anthocyanase activity. The enzyme is capable of increasing the flavour or fragrance of a plant, plant extract or fermentation prod. or is capable of detoxifying the cyanogen glucoside present. The enzymes can also be used for producing blush wine from normal wine. The tannase and anthocyanase activities are useful in decreasing the mat. of tannins and anthocyanins in plants, juices, wines etc. The novel glucosidase also exhibits a cellobiase activity and is useful in the prodn. of fuel from cellulose.
Portable screening machines for compost have a fair length and require considerable conversion before they can be changed from a roadworthy condition to the working condition. It is suggested, therefore, to design the screen in such a way that the feed funnel is accommodated for the road transport inside the screen drum and to align both components, the feed funnel as well as the screen drum, parallel to the vehicle axis.    ADVANTAGE -   Such a screening machine can be moved quickly by road from one client's site to another and can be got ready for work on site very quickly.
The Li-Cu catalyst contains 3-20 wt.% atomic Li. The process is at 750-810 deg. C using contact time of 0.4-0.7 secs. As previously, the method involves conversion in the presence of oxygen and Li-contg. catalyst at an elevated temp. to produce 2C-hydrocarbon cpds. and oxides of carbon.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Increased process productivity and yield of 2C-hydrocarbons cpds. in the conversion of methane into the ethane-ethylene fraction in the chemical and gas industries.    In an example, the proposed and previous method, respectively, gave results: temp. 790 and 770 deg. C; contact time 0.5 and 3.15 secs.; catalyst type Li-Cu (contg. 8% Li) and Li-MgO; total concn. of 2C-cpds. 4.2 and 0.74 vol.%; yield of 2C-cpds. 25.3 and 19.4%; productivity 111.17 and 3.16 g/l cat. hr. Bul.33/7.9.88
The prepn of methane enriched gas (I) is effected by removing carbon dioxide (II) from material gas (III) by pressure swing adsorption (PSA), and comprises (1) Treating (III) with zeolite having average pore size 5 Angstroms or more above 80 deg.C to adsorb (II), (2) Recovering adsorbed methane from the adsorbent.    In process (2), part of the desorbed gas, recovered from the adsorbent under 500-200 Torr is recycled to the adsorption appts to recover methane.    ADVANTAGE -   (I), pref, town gas, is prepd by PSA process from (III), pref reformed gas (prepd by treating liquefied pretroleum or methanol with steam), efficiently removing (II). (II) is removed from (III) by PSA process more economically than prior arts by alkali washing, and methane recovered in high yield (99% or more).
Hydrocarbon(s) (I) contg. two or more carbon atoms is prepd. by reaction of methane (II) with oxygen (III) and carbon dioxide (IV) over catalyst (V). Pref. cpd(s). selected from magnesium, calcium- or zinc-oxide, and certain metal(s) and/or its oxide(s) may be used with above oxide(s) as accelerator. Redox catalyst, e.g. potassium, sodium, barium etc. and their oxide may be used with (V). Ratio of accelerator/ingredient is 2-50 mol.% and ratio of redox catalyst to ingredient plus accelerator is 0.1 mol.% or more, (1-70 mol.%).    ADVANTAGE -   (I), esp. ethane and ethylene, is prepd. more selectively and efficiently than prior arts, and carbon monoxide is prepd. from (IV) simultaneously.
Stirrer comprises a swing frame coupled to a drive, a rotator rotatably supported in a lower part of the swing frame swingably supported by a main frame, and stirring plates mounted on the rotator.    USE -   For aerobically fermenting the cattle droppings.
A mixt of sewage and microbe is introduced from bioreaction tank into a centrifugal separator through an enclosed path to be separated into conc liq and supernatant. The conc liq is returned through enclosed line to the reaction tank.    ADVANTAGE -   Bacteria density can be significantly increased and is controlled by controlling operating condition of the centrifugal separator.
A multi-stage granulating type bioreactor comprises a vertical slender tank, granulating chambers connected to form multistages and including small hole for introducing raw water and a part arranged in the upper portion of the tank for delivering water.    ADVANTAGE -   Since granular sludge can be formed in several days, the start-up period of bioreactor can be reduced. Sludge can be formed even from organic sewage of low concn granules.
A device for treatment of surplus sludge which is formed by biological treatment of waste water, includes a water wheel rotably arranged in upper portion in a tank, a partition plate extending just below scooper of the wheel and forms opening in lower portion of the tank, filter bed arranged at least in a side of the partition plate, and a drain pipe located slightly below axis of the wheel and including filter membrane. The water level in the tank is adjusted so that a turning flow is generated by rotation of the wheel.    ADVANTAGE -   Even if density of surplus sludge is high, microbes breed on the filter bed to activate the sludge. Solid/liq sepn is performed efficiently.
A pyrolysis plant for the thermal decomposition of organic waste contg. hydrocarbons operates by passing the combustible pyrolysis gas through a separator from which the sepd. solids are dropped through a collector between two valves. The outlet can be connected by a rapid coupler to a gastight transport truck. Another rapid coupler on top of the truck leads a by-pass to the top of the collector. A third coupler is used to admit an inert gas to the track. The truck carries a vent valve.    ADVANTAGE -   The solids can be discarded without forming explosive mixtures.
In a new process for composting organic masses such as plant residues and other biosubstances by aerobic rotting using a structure stabilising composting additive and a nitrogen carrier, comminuted mineral wood mat (pref. mineral wool plant mat waste from horticultural prodn.) with linear dimensions of 1-100 mm are used as the composting additive in an amt. of not more than 20% of the compost material volume.    ADVANTAGE -   The physical structure of the compost is stabilised using a material which would otherwise be costly to dispose of.
Presence of CH4 in a gas is detected by monitoring the absorption lines of light from an Nd laser having a wavelength with a fluorescence line width which embraces at least one significant absorption line of the (n2 + 2n3) band of CH4. Pref. the laser is an Nd:YAG laser modified to emit at 1.318 micron, or an Nd:GLASS laser modified to emit at 1.333 micron.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In sensing CH4 in e.g. a mine. Method has good practical applicability. The distance traversed by the light through the atmos. being tested is 15-200 m. Appts. for performing the detection, comprising the laser source, means to direct the laser beam through the atmos. and a detector to detect the absorption line(s) is claimed.
Electrocatalytic process for converting CH4 to higher hydrocarbons comprises: (A) providing a fuel cell comprising a solid electrolyte with a 1st surface (I) coated with conductive metal and/or metal oxide able to catalyse the redn. of O2 to O ions and a 2nd surface (II) coated with a conductive mixt. of (i) conductive metal and/or metal oxides, and (ii) alkali metal(s), the 2 conductive coatings being connected by an external circuit, in which (I) is the cathode and (II) the anode; (B) passing an O2-contg. gas in contact with the surface (I) at about 500-950 deg. C; while (C) passing a CH4 feed gas in contact with the surface (II) at about 500-950 deg. C; and (D) recovering higher mol.wt. hydrocarbons.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   C2H4, C2H6 etc. are produced, and electricity is a useful by-prod. An electric potential can be applied between (I) and (II) and usually results in increased CH4 conversion. E.g. 11.7% CH4 conversion with 26.0% 2C selectivity can be obtd. with an applied voltage of 1.5V.
The material e.g. animal, plant is rotted in containers (2-2power n) to produce methane. The pressure of the methane is used to transport the material through the system and to drive the stirrer and other plant e.g. the drying plant, mill and dewatering unit.    USE -   Prodn. of methane from rotting materials. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8847)
Mfg. compost comprises aerobically fermenting and granulating the wastes in a horizontal rotation type fermenting tank, and again fermenting the granulated wastes in a vertical fermenting tank.    Used for reducing the installation area for the tanks. (J56140096-A)
An appts. for producing town gas has combined (A) low temp. reforming appts. and (B) medium temp. reforming apparatus. (A) is operated at 300-500 deg. C as LPG or naphtha is the supplied raw materials. (B) is operated at 550-650 deg. C by using a perpendicular cylindrical heating furnace. In (B), the supplied raw materials are the prod. of (A). (A) is an adiabatic type low temp. reforming apparatus, filled with ruthenium catalyst. (B) is filled with nickel catalyst.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Town gas of calorific value 4,000-5,500 Kcal/Nm3 is produced. The equipment is simple and its operation is economical. Cheap nickel catalyst (1/7 the cost of Ru catalyst), and economical perpendicular cylindrical heating furnace can be used. Suitable for producing town gas on a small-to-medium scale. As (A) is adiabatic, it is easy to change the catalyst.
Methane is converted to higher hydrocarbons by contacting a gas contg. CH4 and O2 with a catalyst contg. a carbonate of a rare earth.    The rare earths are La (pref.), Pr, Nd (pref.), Sm (pref.), Fu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Fr, Tm, Yb or Lu. The carbonates have the formula M2O2(CO3), pref. La2O2(CO3). M = rare earth. The catalyst may contain a cpd. of an alkaline earth giving the general formula ZaMbOc-x(CO3)x, esp. ZaM2O2(Co3)1+a. Z = alkaline earth; a = O.0O1-2; b = 2; c = 3 + a; x = 0.1 to c. The catalyst may contain, as carrier, SiO2, MgO, CaO, ZnO, alpha-Al2O3, or a perovskite or pyrochlor of the rare earth.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   CH4 or natural gas are converted esp. to ethylene and ethane. The rare earth carbonates have increased activity, selectivity and stability. Higher conversions can be obtd. at lower temp., using high throughput.
High temp. pyrolysis in a vertical converter of partly pre-comminuted waste which sinks slowly in countercurrent through a drying zone and a pyrolysis zone, for final oxidn. in an oxidn. and melt zone, with pure O2, at 1550-1650 deg. C, with removal of the slag at the bottom, and of pyrolysis gases, for purificn., at the head, involves (a) charging a blast furnace, above the throat, with coarsely pre-comminuted house waste or similar waste,, biomass, coal, coke, etc.; (b) blowing in O2 through the bustle pipe, injection nozzles and tuyere, so that the material, dried and pyrolysed by the rising gas, undergoes melt-oxidn., and the liq. slag is withdrawn continuously through the slag tuyere, and or discontinuously through the taphole, (c) withdrawing the rising pyrolysis gas, which superheats and dries the material, through the throat, and (d) arranging in the middle of the hearth, anchored firmly to the firebox and the bsae, a pointed cone of refractory material, in order to maintain an annular melt chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   Waste is dealt with without harm to the environment, and with max. recovery of energy in the most valuable form (H2).
The anaerobic treatment of organic waste and sludge from animal farms, municipal sewage and industrial wastes includes a methane fermentation stage in which the solids concn. is controlled as a function of the reaction time. The control is effected to set an optimum solids consn. of 6% dry matter. To raisee percentage, sedimented solids from the final settling stage is recycled, and to reduce it, clarified water is recycled in the acid phase.    ADVANTAGE -   Increases the capacity of the methane fermentation and achieves a max. gas yield, combined with cost redn.
Ca soaps and/or Mg soaps are used as energy supplement in biogas prodn. The soaps are pref. salts of waste oils and fats, pref. used as a part of the fermenting material for the prodn. of biogas from organic waste prods.    ADVANTAGE -   In biogas prodn., liq. manure and raw or activated sewage sludge have not previously used waste oils and fats as supplementary fermentation substrates because fats may float or hydrolyse giving ammonium salts which cause serious foaming problems in the biogas discharge. Fat could coat the microorganisms or fermentable material and stop the process completely.
Proposed catalyst is based on bentonite clay and it comprises (in wt. %): nickel oxide 3.25-6.50 and bentonite clay 93.50-96.75. Bentonite clay is used as a support.    Tests show that proposed catalyst, when used in conversion of C to methane, gives 99.93% deg. of CO conversion, compared to 99.4% when using the known catalyst of highest activity. Proposed catalyst retains activity for 900 hrs. of service while the activity of known catalyst, after 250 hrs. of service,is reduced to 95%.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   In the hydrogenation of CO to methane, e.g. in purificn. of gases from CO. Increased activity and extended service life owing to the use of new support.    In an example, 29g of Ni(NO3)2 x 6H20 is dissolved in water and mixed with 92.6g of calcined bentonite clay, contg. (in wt. %): SiO2 67.00, M203 15.80, Fe203 4.27, MgO 3.45, CaO 1.90, TiO 0.23, Na20 + K20 1.20, dried at 100 deg. C. for 1 hr. and calcined at 400 deg. C. for 4 hrs. Obtd. catalyst comprises (in wt. %): nickel oxide 7.4 and bentonite clay 92.6 and gives degree of conversion 99.93%. Bul.30/15.8.88.
The wood is loaded into carriages which are wheeled into a pyrolysis furnace. The wood is arranged in the carriages in several sections to increase the surface area which is exposed to the gas in the furnace. Each carriage has side walls a grid base and intermediate walls.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Manufacture of charcoal. Time required to convert wood into charcoal is reduced. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8801).
A horticultural compost prepd from indigeneous materials only ensures superior utilisation of certain byproducts as the technological process residues of propolis of sempervivim teetorum. The above use results in the following advantages antimicrobial protection action, no additioned need for further action, superior utilization of residues following extraction of propolis, reduced cost, very simple process, and improvement of horticultural yields.
In prepn. of a methane-based fuel gas by contacting methanol with catalyst at high temp., a shell-tube type reactor is used to convert methanol. Methanol vapour is fed to the tube side packed with a catalyst, and a coolant is supplied to the shell side to control the reaction temp., in order to adjust the CO concn. at the outlet of the reactor to 500 ppm or lower.    The reactor is divided into two parts: the first-step reactor uses fine tubes for packing the catalyst, to increase the heat-removing effect, and the second-step reactor employs thicker tubes to complete the reaction and minimise the pressure loss in the tubes. A heat exchanger is set between the two reactors to control or lower the temp. of the converted gas.    Alternatively, a single reactor is used having a temp. distribution where the shell-side coolant's temp. is set to be high around the methanol inlet and low around the outlet of the converted gas. In addn., the reaction activity per unit vol. of the packed catalyst is kept low around the inlet and high around the outlet. Alternatively, a single reactor is used whose tube dia., is thin around the methanol-fed inlet and thick around the outlet of the converted gas.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Methane-based fuel gas is obtd. simply and cheaply from the clean methanol. The pressure loss is minimised so that the method achieves max. efficiency using compact equipment.
Method comprises methanisign methanol, removing CO2 a dehumidifying and adjusting the colorific value by PLG. A gas of 10,000 Kcal/NM3 or higher total calorific value is produced without methanising, process or converting CO into methane.    In the methanising process, a mixed gas of 1 mol methanol : 0.05-0.2 Molmol water is fed to a reactor packed with a catalyst and reacted under atmospheric pressure to 40 atm., with the maximum temp. of the catalyst layer set at 400-500 deg. C and reaction gas temp. at the outlet of the reactor at 3 =0 deg. C or lower, to prepare a gas contg. 70-75 mol.% methane based on dry form. The moisture in the prod. gas is recovered and returned to the mixed gas in order not to supplement water externally.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The method provides a high-calorific value gas contg. practically no Co. The temp. of the catalyst layer is stable and the durability of the catalyst is improved.
Liq. raw material of propane is supplied to the 1st container, spraying it from an inlet of the container to diffuse impurities contained in vapour form raw material. The liq. propane obtd. is then supplied to the 2nd container, spraying from its inlet. The operation is repeated in successive containers to obtain purified propane.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To produce high purity lower hydrocarbons using a simple appts.
A process for landfill gas treatment comprises extracting it under negative pressure, passing it through a water trap to remove droplets of liq., passing it through two scrubbers and then a second water trap and compressing it between the two scrubbers.    More specifically, the gas is extd. from the landfill site at a negative pressure of up to 60 inches of water and sieve water traps and countercurrent scrubbers are used.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For prodn. of gas for use as fuel in boilers of brick-kilns or combustion engines with reduced equipment damage.
A packing case for firewood has slats of wood held together by fasteners to form an apertured parallelepipedic box. A cubic packing case contg. firewood is defined by spaced wooden slats held together by fasteners. The slats form three horizontal frames surrounded by two vertical frames. The vertical frames are joined by a crosspiece thicker and stronger than the slats, which can be used as a handle to carry the case. The crosspiece and the upper slats of the vertical frames together form a removable cover. The vertical frames are fixed to the horizontal ones by the fasteners, and are reinforced by plastic tapes surrounding them.    ADVANTAGE -   The case is rigid, strong and can be burnt.
A fixed-bed reactor for ascending operation through the bed and a descending central discharge supports the bed on a perforated distributor bottom plate around the large end of the conical central tube system.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For the anaerobic biological digestion of heavily laden industrial wastes from breweries, sugar and starch factories, abattoirs and the paper and pulp industry. This reactor has a uniformly distributed and not too high a flow velocity without any channeling in the fixed bed. Spent biomass sludge can be flushed away by raising the throughput.
A starter culture for anaerobic bio-methanation of a substrate contg. lactose comprises a mixt. of live, reproducible cells of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Methanosarcira cMethano". and bacterium formicicum. An adapted sludge starter culture for anaerobic bio-methanation of lactose, comprising L. mesenteroides, D. vulgaris, M. formicicum and M. barkeri, prepd. by culturing a sewage digester sludge contg. these organisms on a substrate contg. lactose is also claimed.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The substrate may be whey. The CH4 produced can be used as a fuel. Useful amts. of CH4 are produced without an initial delay phase. The microorganisms of the starter cultures grow together anaerobically (e.g. under N2/CO2) on a lactose substrate at 37 deg.C and pH 7, and do not usually need additional nutrients. More than 95% of the lactose can be coverted in 24 h, compared with less complete conversion in 5-13 days with known processes.
A hydrolysate prepd. by H2SO4 hydrolysis of biomass or of a bio-slurry concentrate from refuse fermentation, is used, after neutralisation with NH4OH, and clearing or filtration, as a complex organic N source in a microbial nutrient.    The hydrolysate may be used alone as N source, or may be combined with sources of C and energy without further addn. of mineral salts and trace elements; mono- and poly-alcohols, mono- and di-carboxylic acids, oils, hydroxy-di- and tri-carboxylic acids, ketodicarboxylic acids, mono-, oligo- and poly-saccharides, pheols, aromatic alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and heterocyclic cpds. can be used as sources of C and energy, with hydrolysate. The amt. of the hydrolysate is such as to give an alpha-NH2 N content of 10-1000 (50-500) micro-g/ml.    ADVANTAGE -   The nutrient is cheap and easily available.
Appts. for producing methane by anaerobic fermentation has cavity dug in the ground into which quantity of waste material is deposited. The waste is covered with earth to separate it from atmos. A first conduit interconnects the waste material in the cavity with a gas separator. The conduit carries a mixt. of methane and carbon dioxide from the decomposing waste to the separator where the two gases are sepd and carried off in separate conduits to individual locations.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Appts. and method are used to produce methane to supplement a natural gas supply by the decomposition of municipal solid- or animal- waste. Gas with a high methane content and high heating value is obtd by the decomposition of waste materials. At the end of the fermentation process obtd waste is not esp. foul smelling and can be used as an agricultural fertiliser.
A methanol reformer comprises a cylindrical furnace, a burner placed at upper part of the furnace, a cylindrical wall placed around the burner, a vapourizer placed in the wall, a reactor placed at the outside of the wall and connected to the vapouriser and an outlet. The reformer also comprises an air chamber between the burner and the reactor and air is supplied from the outside of the furnace to the air chamber controlling its amt. based on a catalyst temp. in the reactor.    USE -   The compsn. and amt. of flow of reformed gas do not change when the load of the fuel cell changes, because the catalyst in the reactor is not super-heated.
C membranes having a porosity to permit passage of a predetermd. gas to be sepd. from a mixt. are formed by: opt. pre-treating a membrane precursor of non-melting C-contg. material with an agent which increases C yield and preserves precursor geometry; pyrolysing in an inert atmos.; oxidising in an O2-contg. atmos. at elevated temp. if required, exposing the resulting membrane to air, H2 or CO2, if required; and vacuuming the membrane, if required.    Pref. precursor material has a thickness of 2-500 microns, and if in tubular form, a wall thickness of 1-300 microns and a dia. of 5-1000 microns. Pyrolysis heating is carried out at 1-10 deg.C/min. and the pyrolysed membrane is activated by air, O2, CO2 or water vapour.    The pore size is increased by heating at 200-1200 deg.C for 10 mins. to 16 hrs. in N2, Ar, H2 or in a vacuum; or is decreased by heating at 700-1500 deg.C for 15 mins. to 12 hrs. in a noble gas, N2, H2 or vacuum. The membrane may be degassed in a vacuum at 200-1000 deg.C.; and/or passivated at 500-1000 deg.C at 1-1000 torr for 1-2 hrs.; and/or modified by exposure to an organic vapour at 450-1200 deg.C for 15 mins. to 4 hrs. to deposit C in the pores.    ADVANTAGE -   Membrane has a controlled pore size with a sharp upper cut-off, providing high perm-selectivity.
A decomposing vegetable mass is dried by placing it in a drying vessel lit by natural light, blowing air into the mass from underneath, removing air from the upper end of the vessel, and recovering liquid from the lower part of the mass. A building for carrying out the process is also claimed. The mass is pref. periodically stirred.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   For compost or manure. The whole mass is dried in a reasonable time.
A product (II) comprising C2 and higher hydrocarbons including ethylene is obtd. from a methane-contg. gaseous paraffinic hydrocarbon feedstock (I) by (a) heating at elevated pressure in a pre-heating zone a mixt. of (I) and at least 5 mole % oxygen to a temp. sufficient to cause spontaneous reaction, and (b) allowing the mixt. to react in a reaction zone. Pre-heating and mixing are effected in a manner such that (i) substantial oxygen consumption is avoided, and (ii) a flashback of the reaction to form a diffusion flame at the point of gaseous mixing is avoided.    ADVANTAGE -   High methane conversion and high selectivity to ethylene and ethane are obtd. without the use of a diluent. No significant amt. of acetylene is formed, and a quench step is not necessary. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen are obtd. as valuable byproducts.
Waste waters of urban and/or industrial origin contg. low concns. of organic pollutants (I) are purified by the following microbiological method: (a) the water is treated under anaerobic/anoxic conditions with microorganisms (fixed or in floccules specific for both (I) (to produce a biogas rich in CH4) and nitrates; and (b) the produced H2O undergoes a high-speed, fixed-biofilm oxidising aerobic biological treatment which nitrifies NH3 and oxidises sulphides.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The process has a sharp decrease (to 1/2) in energy consumption, gives more stabilised concd. muds which are more easily disposed of, and affords a high-heat-power biogas. In addn., the plant requires reduced surface area.
The hardness of circulating water in a conversion plant is controlled and regulated esp. in a plant in which waste gas forms which contains harmful substances and which cannot be released into the atmos. without purificn. including at least 1 wet wash, by addn. to the water of an aluminate, and opt. a zeolite in addn. to the usual additives, e.g. CO2, flocculants, swelling agents with crystal growth deactivating properties and alkaline earth cpds., e.g. limewater.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The processes are esp. recovery, refining and/or working of Fe, steel and nonferrous metals (claimed). The method can also be used in power plant e.g. coal, oil or gas power plant and in incineration or carbonisation of refuse. Addn. of the aluminate reinforces the cleaning effect. Water economy is improved, giving a saving in cost. The amt. of harmful matter passed into the atmos. is reduced to below the legal limits. Metal dust, metal cpd. dust, and aerosol dust particles esp. contg. heavy metals (or cpds.) and with particle size below 6-7 mm. are more efficiently removed.
Sewage sludge esp. prim. and/or activated sludge, from waste water treatment, is treated with a 1-3C per-acid and allowed to rot in a putrifying lant.    Treatment with the per-acid may be in a preconcentrator, between the pre-concentrator and the utrifier, or just before the putrifier. Treatment is ref. with peracetic acid, in amt. of 5O0-6,000 mg/1 of sludge, for 1 mins.-2 h. Before feeding into the utrifier, the pH of the sludge may be brought to 7-9 by addn. of Ca0 or Ca(0H)2.    ADVANTAGE -   The sludge is sterilised and stabilised, and can be used as fertiliser, without great investment in plant, and with no redn. in gas (CH4) yield. The process is simple and rapid; residence time in the putrifying plant is 8-2 (1O-15) days, compared with 2O-25 days fro untreated sludge.
Sewage sludge is rotted by (a) spreading a loose charge of organic matter (at least partly straw, wood waste, used paper or refuse) on a flat surface, (b) adding raw slurry brought to a solids content of at least 25 wt.%, (c) immediately mixing the components, and (d) leaving the mixt. to aerobic decay until the material rots.    The organic material, is at least partly straw, pref. in the form of mats, as formed in harvest threshers, partic. wheat straw or barley straw, or may be a mixt. of straw with wood waste or shredded waste paper, opt. with other organic matter as C source for the rotting microbes. The raw slurry may contain heavy metals at a level below the max. legal limit, has 25-35 wt.% solid, and may be pre-treated with mineral salts and/or polyelectrolytes. Mixing is in known appts., at a ratio of organic matter: partially dried slurry of 0.1-0.5:1 cubic.m. The mixt is spread on a surface of at least 4 square.m/cubic m of slurry, in a way such that the layers taper upwards.    ADVANTAGE -   The process does not need special reactors or rotting towers, allows of adequate aeration during rotting, supplies nutrients necessary for aerobic breakdown of the slurry, and allows of a water content which ensures complete humus formation. Turning over of the layers of material is not necessary but may be done 1-3 x to accelerate rotting.
A compost bin has side wings, reinforced by boards with slots to hold longitudinal partitions. The latter form in conjunction with the perforated bottom plates a set of plant boxes, leaving the interior for the organic waste and refuse filled in through the flap of the filler hole.    ADVANTAGE -   Produces high-grade humus and utilises the gases and heat developed for the growth of plants.
The equipment (1) consists of a washing installation (10) rinsing and drying installation (11) and a sepg. installation (8). The washing installation comprises a trough (15), forced operation mixer (3) and the material impact section (14) is provided with a vibrating screen (2).    The rinsing of the material containing the emulsified contaminating admixt. is conveyed through a rinsing section with a system of rinsing jets. The sepg. section consists of an inclined trough with screw conveyor.    ADVANTAGE -   The design offers a mobile installation with improved decontamination efficiency of contaminated soils.
The prepn. of an organic-organic fertiliser from organic fibres obtd. from the work up of rubbish and mask materials comprises mixing the organic fibres with amts. of organic fertilisers which are capable of being rapidly degraded by bacteria.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The addn of the rapidly bacterially degradable organic fertiliser leads to rapid humus formation. This nutrient humus forms a basis for the formation of a durable humus. If liq. manure is used as the fertiliser component, its smell is greatly reduced by combining with the organic fibres. This organic-organic fertiliser can replace mineral fertilisers in most cases, and poses less of a threat to the environment.
Method and appts. for open-air drying of organic fibrous material e.g. straw, peat, wood chips, involves piling the material into a rick over a drying frame upon the ground, the frame having centreline uprights which mark rick depth and edging fittings at least at its lengthwise sides. A fan unit generates air flow through the rick, opt. inwardly or outwardly for alternately in those directions. Pref. opt. lightwt. rain cover can be spaced above the rick.    ADVANTAGE -   Frame keeps the material out of ground contact and possible moisture uptake.
Composting device includes an air diffuser which has an air admitting opening which excludes insects and small animal pests. The diffuser consists of a hollow tube with apertured corrugated side walls. The diffuser is removably fitted in an access opening in the upper end of the device. The tube houses a member to exclude insects larger than one tenth of an inch yet permits ingress of air. The lower end of the tube extends into the container contents and has apertured side walls to permit air to enter.    USE -   The device is used to compost organis wastes on a domestic scale. The decomposed product may be used as a soil conditioner.
Reduced losses of ethylene and propylene in the course of hydrogenation of acetylene cpds. are achieved by the additional measurement of reactive mass feed to the reactor, and sensing the pressure difference between its inlet and outlet. The content of H in the hydrogen fraction, acetylene cpds. and CO in the ethane-ethylene fraction are measured. The measured values of acetylene cpds. content in the downstream of the reactor, CO and acetylene cpds. in ethane-ethylene fractions, as well as H in the hydrogen fractions provide corrective steps for H fraction flow rates as a function of the measurement results.    The control of the flows ratio of H and of ethane-ethylene fractions is ensured by the setting of the regulator (11) of valve (12) by computation of the functional unit (10). The setting for refrigerant vapour pressure regulator (17) of the valve (18) in the line from the separator (14) and cooling condenser (13) is determined by the other functional unit (16).    ADVANTAGE -   The control stabilises the content of acetylene cpds. in the ethane-ethylene fraction past the reactor in the case of reactive mass compsn. changes and when the activity of the catalyst drops due to tarring. Bul.26/15.7.88
The fabricator comprises a bin (1), a tank (2), and mixers (7) on moving carriages (8), with a grab. To increase performance, partitions (3) form three sections in part (2), with volume ratios 1.5-2.5:4.5-5.5:1.0-1.5 and housing parts (7).    Preferably, perforated tubes (12) in section (4) have extractor fans (11) linked to section (5). Drives for 32-per-cent-ash 70-per-cent-moisture-content mechanically-dried liquid effluent sediment from a 20,000 m3/day cleaner, handle 150 m3 per day of 96.2 per cent moisture content sediment. The dried sediment totals 19 m3/day and the biothermal treatment section capacities are 60, 150 and 30 m3. The sediment is dried to 60 per cent by adding 40 per cent moisture content at 0.5 m3/day per m3 of sediment. The total residence time is 2, 5 + 1 days, with increase in productivity.    ADVANTAGE -   The design increases productivity and efficiency. Bul.26/15.7.88
The steam, by being conducted transversally through a bed of material, evaporates the moisture in that material, the resulting steam being usable for other purposes. The equipment used comprises a closed chamber with inlet and outlet for drying steam, a feed-in device with cut-off for the undried material, and a feed-in and cut-off for dried material. In the chamber, vertical walls enclosed in conjunction with gables the material to be dried, the walls being at least partly perforated to permit passage of drying steam.    At least one of the walls is pivotably suspended in its under part so that after termination of the drying period it can be pivoted outwards to obviate material suspension. This outward movement is by means of a pivoting mechanism connected to a hydraulic piston drive source. The space accommodating the material is upwardly limited by a partly sealing plate, and there is another sealing plate at its bottom. Material which sediments in the drier steam chamber is conducted to the feed-out device along inclined plates.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   To dry chopped bark and timber waste, with recuperation of a large part of the drying energy, i.e. process steam, for remote heating installations.
Gas fuel is prepd. by dissolving at least one of organic metal salts, metal-contg. organic chelating cpds., inorganic metal salts, and boric esters, together with a surfactant in a liquefied combustible gas which vaporises under atmospheric pressure.    Organic metal salt is barium acetate, calcium acetate, cobalt aceate, copper acetate, potassium acetate, barium cyclohexyl butylate, molybdenum cyclohexyl butylate, etc. Organic chelating cpd. is barium acetylacetonate, lithium acetylacetonate, caesium acetylacetonate, barium dipivaloyl methane, cobalt dipivaloyl methane, rubidium dipivaloyl methane, etc. Inorganic metal salt is BaCl2, CuCl, CuCl2, kCl, NaNO3, LiNO3, etc. Boric ester is trimethyl borate, triethyl borate, etc. Surfactant is polyethylene glycol of 200-50000 molecular wt. (average), dodecylbenzene sodium sulphonate, dodecylbenzene copper sulphonate, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Without choking of nozzles of, e.g., lighters, the fuel ignites readily and combusts stably. It generates a brightly coloured flame, preventing various accidents such as not turning off.
Catalyst for producing CH4 contg. gas using CH3OH or mixture of CH3OH and water as raw material comprises 100 pts. wt. of support contg. alkaline earth metal oxide and 5-300 pts. wt. of Ni oxide.    Pref. alkali metal oxide is MgO, CaO, BaO or their mixt. The support contg. alkaline earth metal oxide contains over 1%, e.g. over 5 wt.% of alkaline earth metal oxide and alumina, titania, zirconia or silica and binder. The support is produced by covering alumina or titania support with alkali metal oxide or by mixing alumina or titania support with alkaline earth metal oxide or by adding alkali to mixed soln. contg. alkaline earth metal and Al cpd. to form ppte and firing the ppte.    ADVANTAGE -   CH4 contg. gas is selectively produced from CH3OH or mixture of CH3OH and water by using the catalyst.
Catalyst for producing CH4 containing gas using CH3OH or mixture of CH3OH and water as raw material comprises 100 wt. parts of support contg. alkali metal oxide and 5-300 wt. parts of Ni oxide. Alkali metal oxide is pref. K2O, Na2O (mixt.). The support containing alkali metal oxide pref. contains over 1 wt.%, e.g. over 5 wt.% of alkali metal oxide and alumina, titania, zirconia or silica and binder. The support is pref. produced by covering alumina or titania support with alkali metal oxide or by mixing alumina or titania support with alkali metal oxide. To support Ni oxide on the support the support and powdered Ni compound are mixed or the powdered support is immersed in an aq. soln. of Ni and Na2CO3 is added to form precipitate on the support and then the support is moulded and fired.    ADVANTAGE -   CH4 contg. gas is selectively produced from CH3OH or mixture of CH3OH and water by using the catalyst.
Conversion of bleaching earth (I) to expanded porous ceramic granules (II) involves mixing (I) with organic material (III), which is carbonised at ca. 400-700 deg.C; pressing the mixt. to cakes; granulating these; and calcining the granules.    Pref. (III) consists of cellulosic material, e.g. wood and wood fibres, or organic fuel, e.g. diesel oil. (I) is lean, scoured (I). (III) is added in an amt. of 0.1-25, pref. 0.5-15 wt.%. Fat (I) pref. is added to a cake of lean scoured (I), pref. in an amt. of 10-30, esp. 15-25 wt.%; and lime may also be added. The granules have a dia. of 1-50, pref. 4-25 mm. They are dried before calcination, pref. for 10-20 min. at 70-100 deg.C, then calcined 5-20 min. at 500-800 deg.C, pref. 8-15 min. 600-700 deg.C and then opt. sintered at 1000-1300, pref. 1000-1100 deg.C.    Waste (I) from purificn. and bleaching of mineral and vegetable oils, fats and waxes can be converted to environmentally harmless, useful (II), rather than requiring disposal in special dumps. The process is esp. useful in conjunction with a process for scouring fat (I) by boiling, since the energy generated (esp. if fat (I) is used) at least partly covers the energy requirement of the boiling process.
Isoparaffins are produced from synthesis gas (I) by contacting (I) with a catalyst comprising (a) a cadmium component and (b) an acidic support component,e.g. a zeolite, molecular sieve, pillared smectite or vermiculite clay. The iso/normal paraffin ratio for butane is more than 5, and for pentane more than 8, when the catalyst is tested at reaction pressure above 20 atmos, temp. 315-400 deg.C, (I) rate 1400-2800 cc/h/g catalyst, hydrogen:carbon monoxide ratio 2:1 to 1:1.    (a) is cadmium oxide, forming e.g. 5 wt.% of the catalyst. (b) may be rare earth exchanged zeolite Y or X, ultra stable zeolite y, cadmium exchanged zeolite Y or H mordenite; these materials may be compounded with a refractory oxide, e.g. alumina. Other suitable materials (b) are aluminium-expanded bentonite clay, faujasite or amorphous silica-alumina. The support material may be impregnated conventionally with a precursor of (a), e.g. cadmium nitrate, and calcined.    ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is highly selective for the prodn. of low mol.wt. isoparaffins, esp. isobutane and isopentane; no aromatics or oxygenated prods. are obtd.
Hydrocarbon conversion process comprises (a) passing a hydrocarbon feedsteam contg. (mole%) at least 30 3-4C olefins, at least 50 3-4C paraffins and less than 10 5C+ hydrocarbons into a reaction zone for contact with a solid Ga-contg. catalyst at low severity conditions, including a temp. below 425 deg.C, resulting in the partial conversion of the feed hydrocarbons to aromatics, and (b) producing a reaction zone effluent stream comprising 6-8C aromatic hydrocarbons, 3-4C paraffins and less than 10 mole% olefins; whereby (i) the effluent is sepd. into a 1st prod. stream, rich in 6-8C aromatics, and a 2nd prod. stream, rich in 3-4C paraffins, both prod. streams being withdrawn from the process, and the flow rate of the 2nd prod. stream being at least 30 wt.% of that of the feedstream, and (ii) the mass flow rate of paraffins from the reaction zone exceeds that of the paraffins into the zone.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   A feed stream with substantial olefin content yields a high quality (low olefin content) LPG. At least 60 (pref. 80) mole % of the 3-5C olefins in the feed are converted to paraffins or aromatics. The selective conversion of olefins to aromatics and paraffins is achieved by low-temp. conditions and the pref. presence of added H2 with net H2 consumption.
Method of treating biomass flash pyrolysates (I) which have a certain coke polymerisation temp. in order to reduce their tendency to coke formation comprises hydrogenating at a temp. below their coke polymerisation temp..    The treatment may be effected at 250-300 deg.C in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, esp. one chosen from Fe, Co and Ni. (Untreated wood flash pyrolysates have coke polyemrsation temp. during hydrotreatment of about 310 deg.C).    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The starting material (I) may be obtd. from wood. The prod. of treatment can be conventionally hydrotreated at higher temps. and pressures than those of the present method to yield gasoline, with reduced problems from coke prodn. as a result of the foregoing treatment of the invention.
A charcoal producing plant has a line of mobile carbonisation furnaces, a line of identical mobile wood dryers, an air inlet sleeve at the top of each furnace and dryer and a gas outlet at its base, a duct with a fan connecting the gas outlets of the furnaces to an incinerator, a duct connecting the incinerator to the sleeves of the dryers, and a duct connecting the gas outlets of the dryers to a chimney.    ADVANTAGES -   Noxious vapours are not released, and no separate drying procedure is needed.
A biogas reactor, at least partly filled with active biomass, encloses one or more separating funnels with a central tube penetrating in the funnel to form a gas collecting space. The gas is extracted by a horizontal pipe through the funnel and the reactor wall; surplus gas escapes over the bottom and of the control tube and rises in th' latter.    ADVANTAGE -   Many such funnels can be arranged above each other to create a biogas reactor with very little floor space. Biogas can be extracted from all its levels.
Organic waste, such as human or animal excrete, vegetable rubbish etc., is quickly composted in an enclosed casing with several inclined shafts formed by bottom plates with inclined chain conveyors in accordance with a Parent Patent. Endless chain drives move mixing angles up the bottom plates to transport the waste from shaft to shaft. A hinged scraper at the top of each chain is raised for the passage of the mixing angle. Process air is passed through the waste through opening just above each plate.    ADVANTAGE -   This results in a uniform composting in all shafts and minimizes the cost for equipment and operation. Varying flow rates can be accommodated.
Process comprises (i) preparing a suspension of raw humus substance by oxidation of high-concn. organic sewage component to be treated (ii) adding a prescribed amount of high-concn. organic sewage to suspension and to aerate the mixed suspension for many hours with air or oxygen, (iii) removing the same amount of the aerated mixed suspension as that of the high-concn. organic sewage added before, (iv) sepg. the aerated mixed suspension taken out into a solution and a solid, and (v) discharging a purified soln. and to increase the humus degree of the solid by an appropriate method to transform the solid into a genuine humus substance that is used for agricultural uses.    ADVANTAGE -   The process is cheap in a plant construction cost and in an operation cost as compared with the conventional activated sludge process.
Prodn. comprises mixing and fermenting bark chips and pig excretions.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   Used for treating pig excretions without using activated sludge. Watery pig excretions are easily fermented to produce compost, and bark tissues in the compost improve the soil. Specifically the Bark is taken from a Japanese cedar or a Japanese cypress. The sizes of the chips is 1-2 cm by 5-10 cm, which is convenient for stirring and mixing. The combining ratio of bark per pig excretions is 1/4 by wt..    In an example Japanese cedar bark, dried under sunlight, is cut into pieces (1 by 5 cm). Two tons of bark chips were pressed into a container for mixing, and mixed with 8 tons of pig excretions. After adding ferment bacilli, it was thoroughly stirred. The mixt. was stirred 2-4 times a day in a stirring container (70 x 3 x 0.6 m) for 60-70 days to give bark compost. The compost had 1/3 weight compared to the initial mixt. of bark chips and pig excretions.
Promoting aeration in a tank comprises heat reserving tank able to transmit light and including aeration pump and defoaming device covering upper portion suction duct opened in upper portion and connected to the pump, another duct opened in lower portion for introducing outside air a shield chamber for removing heat generated by fermentation of material in the tank and for isolating from air and a heat excahnger, for heating outside air flowing in the duct using heat of air exhausted form the shield chamber.    ADVANTAGE -   Since air is heated by solar energy heat is generated by fermentation temp. is increased to promote aerobic fermentation in the tank.
Fuel for an open fireplace is of a composition and size selected to reduce the cost and supervision of the fire.    An impregnated kraft paper bag sewn closed holding the fuel, a method of drying wood to a moisture content of 24% to form the fuel or to 10% to form a firelighter, a mechanically cleaned material free of splinters, moss, bark and dust, and a chemical firelighter needing no paper are also claimed.    ADVANTAGE -   The fire is easy to light.
Composts are mfd. by the following process: organic material is seeded with anaerobic bacteria and nutrients and allowed to ferment anaerobically. It is then ground and mixed with aerobic bacteria and nutrients and allowed to ferment aerobically. The prod. is then dried. Pref. anaerobic fermentation lasts around 3 weeks, while the aerobic phase lasts for 2 weeks. Drying will take 2-3 weeks. The starting material may be of animal origin, e.g., manure, or it may be vegetable refuse. The anaerobic phase is effected in a closed container, at least some of the walls of which are treated to prevent the passage of UV radiation, e.g., surface treated polycarbonate. Aerobic fermentation is effected after grinding the prod. and takes place in thin layers, pref. 40-50 cm thick. The nutrients added may be N, P, K, B and Mg, and natural prods. e.g., blood and horn, added as a powder or granules. During the anaerobic phase, a low temp. pasteurisation takes place, the temp. being 60 deg. C.    ADVANTAGE -   Process is faster than conventional composting and gives a prod. rich in humus and microorganisms. /0
Conversion of biogas to MeOH is effected by passing the biogas through a corona discharge at a pressure between 100 torr and a few atmos.    Specifically, conversion is effected at atmospheric pressure or at the pressure at which the biogas is produced. One of the discharge -generating electrodes is coated with a 1 mm thick layer of adsorbent material, esp. 'Zeosorb'.    ADVANTAGE -   Both CH4 and CO2 are converted to MeOH, which is a storable liq. energy source.
The regulating chamber controls the flow of gas from a refuse deposit for domestic and industrial waste, and is connected to one or more gas sources. It is also connected to a gas-fired boiler via a gas fan. In the gas sources are thermometers connected e.g., to a micro-processor. The processor is connected in turn to a control valve in the regulating chamber which on the basis of temp. rise as indicated by the thermometers reduces the flow of methane and carbon dioxide from the refuse deposit. When such a temp. rise occurs, an alarm, either acoustic or optical, is automatically given.    The gas extracted normally consists of 55-60% methane, approx. 40% carbon dioxide and 2-4% nitrogen, and is formed under anaerobic conditions. The anaerobic process is strongly exothermic, i.e., large amts. of heat are developed in connection with the decompsn. process.    USE -   To extract gas from refuse deposits and use to heat a water boiler.
Device for forming compost from waste comprises tanks for fermentation stages arranged in series and partitioned by walls including delivery ports. an inlet of the waste formed in upper portion of the 1st tank and screw conveyer arranged in lower portion in the tanks for feeding the waste.    ADVANTAGE -   Compost is formed continuously.
Treatment of wood (charcoal) (I), which releases harmful matter on combustion, involves extn. of (I), opt. reduced to pieces of a suitable size, with a solvent mixt. contg. (cyclo)aliphatic hydrocarbon(s) (II) and polar (cyclo)aliphatic cpd(s). (III), esp. to remove the harmful organic constituents. This treatment is useful for wooden components, structural wood etc., esp. that treated with preservatives, e.g. railway sleepers, poles for overhead lines, wood used in water and for bridges etc.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The technique is also useful for treatment of polywood and chipboard. The harmful matter is removed almost completely, so that (I) can be burnt without harmful emissions.
A biogas producing plant which can be charged without any prior crushing of bulky or floating garbage of organic material with a high content of solids uses a pipe or a screw to press the charge in the fermenter above a perforated bottom. The overflow determines the possible gas pressure in the ferments, as a pump circulates the fluid to a spray nozzle. The liquid is heated in the shaft. The dome of the fermenter floats in a water seal and the gas is extracted through the pipe.    ADVANTAGE -   This makes it possible to charge a biogas reactor without prior crushing or dilution, with organic waste, high in solids.
Carbon with low ash content is made from lignin by (a) carbonising the lignin in a non-oxidising gas atmos. to produce charcoal, and (b) leaching the charcoal with an aq. acidic soln..    (a) The lignin is a concentrate obtd. by concentrating spent black liquor from the digestion step in pulping cellulose raw materials in pulp prodn., and may be pre-treated to minimise inorganic content before concn.. The lignin may be dried in a non-oxidising gas before carbonisation. Carbonisation may be in 2 steps, (i) pre-carbonisation in a reducing atmos. of decomposition gases formed in the drying, pre-carbonisation and/or final carbonisation steps, and (ii) final carbonisation in inert superheated steam, or in a reducing atmos. of decomposition gases formed in the drying, pre-carbonisation and/or final carbonisation steps.    The black liquor may be CaHSO3 liquor, MgHSO3 liquor, Na2SO3 liquor and/or NaOH/anthraquinone liquor, when carbonisation is at 390-400 deg. c for 125-175 mins., to carry out (i) and (ii). With CaHSO3, MgHSO3 or Na2SO3 liquor, redn. of the inorganic content may include stripping SO2 from the liquor. (b) Leaching is with a soln. of H2SO3, or with a soln. of acetic acid followed by leaching with a soln. of a strong inorganic acid.    USE -   The C is useful as activated or metallurgical C, esp. after pelletisation with an organic binder, e.g. pitch, a water-sol. resin (e.g. a phenol/HCHO resin) or an organic solvent-sol. binder; for metallurgical use, a resin binder is pref. to pitch, which contains S and would have to be removed. The hardened pellets may be activated, e.g. by superheated steam; e.g., for leaching Au, the pellets may be activated in superheated steam and 50% Ar, e.g. at 800 deg. C for 2 h. The C may also be used as S-free low ash C for general chemical purposes. (Provisional Basic previously advised in week 8845)
Wastewater contg. methanol is charged in a bio-reactor contg. methane producing bacteria. The temp. at which the fermentation is carried out most efficiently is 40 deg. C. The methane producing bacteria belongs to Methanobacterium family so that methane is produced and the waste water is treated simultaneously    ADVANTAGE -   Waste water from food industry, paper and pulp industries, etc. is treated without heating, reducing the energy consumed. The bacteria is more actively attached to the carrier.
Catalyst for producing CH4 by vapour catalytic reaction of CH3OH comprises fine powdered gamma-alumina or alumina hydrate support contg. S cpd. in an amt. of under 1.2 wt. % based on SO42-, on which Ni and/or Ni oxide or reduced cpd. of Ni oxide are supported.    Fine powdered gamma-alumina or alumina hydrate used as support has particle size of 30-100 microns. Amt. of S-cpd. contained in the support is measured by fluorescent X ray analysis method. Ni is supported in an amt. of 25-75%. The catalyst is prepd. by adding alkali bicarbonate or alkali carbonate to a soln. of Ni salt, e.g. nitrate, chloride or sulphate to form ppte. of Ni, kneading the ppte. with fine powdered support, drying, firing the mixt., moulding and then reducing the moulding with H2.    USE/ADVANTAGE -   The catalyst is used to produce CH4 contg. gas from CH3OH as raw material. The catalyst has good heat durability and high activity at low temp. By using the catalyst, CH4 is produced in high yield.
Rhodium starting material is pref. rhodium chloride. By adding rhodium, electrical resistance of gas sensitive material can be improved, and the whole composite becomes SnO2. Gas sensor is composed of an alumina base, heater for heating as sensor, a pair of platinum electrodes for measuring electrical resistance of gas sensitive material composed of rhodium and tin oxide fine particle film, and lead wires for heater and platinum electrode.    Alumina base provided with tin oxide fine particle film, is dipped into aq. rhodium chloride soln. of 1 wt.% of rhodium density, for 30 mins., then dried at room temp. and heated in electric furnace at 600 deg.C for 3 hr. Particle size of tin oxide fine particles does not change by heating treatment, but all composite becomes tin dioxide.    ADVANTAGE -   Gas sensor having high sensitivity to methane can be obtd.
Organic waste is dewatered and mixed with additives in a screw feeder or mixing drum. The mixture is stored in aerobic conditions for 30-60 days, in prismatic heaps provided with tunnels to ensure good access to air. The raw compost should preferably be mixed with a portion of matured compost.